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3 



NOCTURNAL VISIT, 



A TALE. 



BY MARIA REGINA ROCHE, 

AUTHOR OF THE CHILDREN OF THE ABBEY, MAID OF 

THE HAMLET, VICAR OF LANSDOWNE, AND 

CLERMONT. 



" Thou com'st in such a questionable shape, 
u That I will speak to thee." 

SHAKSPEARE. 



VOL. UK 



PHILADELPHIA : 

PUBLISHED BY JOHN CONRAD, & CO, NO. 30, CHESNUT 
STREET, PHILADELPHIA; M. &. I. CONRAD, &, CO. 

, NO. 144, MARKET-STREET, BALTIMORE ; A.NDRAFIN, 
CONRAD, & C®. WASHINGTON CITY. 

H. MAXWELL, PRINTER. 



1801. 



NOCTURNAL VISIT. 



CHAP.I 



"His tongue 
" Dropp'd manna, and could make the worse appear 
" The better reason, to perplex and dash 
" Maturest counsels ; for his thoughts were low, 
" To vice industrious, but to nobler deeds 
w Tim'rous and slothful ; yet he pleas'd the ear." 

MILTON. 



" THE relation I am about giving 
you," said Mrs. Decourcy, after remaining some 
minutes in a thoughtful attitude, as if to recal 
past events to her recollection, " I must preface 
with some account of myself; else many circum- 
stances would still remain unexplained to you. 
But in touching upon my own story, I shall en- 
deavour to be brief, in order to avoid exercising 
your patience too severely. 

" The knowledge which you have acquired of 
my family, by your residing with my brother, 
renders it unnecessary for me to speak of it, or 
to relate the misfortunes in consequence of which, 
at the age of seventeen, the period I lost my fa- 
ther, I was totally deprived of provision. My 
brother's situation was as destitute as mine. The 
disappointments which rendered it so, you are 



4 NOCTURNAL VISIT. 

acquainted with ; and all he could do for me, was 
to endeavour to procure me an asylum in the 
house of a family connected with ours, who had 
received many favours from our departed parent, 
which my brother flattered himself they would 
be happy to have an opportunity of requiting, by 
extending their protection to his orphan daughter. 

" But in thinking so, in judging of them by 
his own feelings, which he did, he was utterly 
mistaken. Mr. and Mrs. Cresfield had neither 
hearts to feel, nor to return kindness. 'Tis true 
they granted his request, but it was ostentation, 
not gratitude or sensibility, which prompted them 
to do so. 

" Ignorant, however, at that period, of their 
real dispositions, he entrusted me to their care, 
in full confidence of my receiving from them every 
attention which could soften the remembrance of 
past sorrows, and give me spirits to support my 
present situation. My own hopes were equally 
sanguine, for I was then as unacquainted as he 
was with the principles which governed them. 
I had not been long, however, under their pro* 
tection, ere they were completely unfolded to my 
view ; and I perceived, that it was not a wish to 
serve me, but to obtain a character for benevo- 
lence, which had induced them to befriend me. 

" Their family consisted of three daughters, 
who, in my prosperous days, had professed a 
tender affection for me. ...an affection which I had 
now every reason to believe they never felt. Their 
cold and altered manners hurt me still more than 
the cold and altered manners of their parents ; 
and I wept to find their friendship 



NOCTURNAL VISIT. 5 

" But a name, 
" A shade that follow'd wealth or fame, 
" But left the wretch to weep." 

" When the first shock of disappointment was 
over, I determined to try and support my situa- 
tion with patience and fortitude. Complaints, I 
knew, could not remedy it ; and by comparing it 
with the situation of others, I endeavoured to re- 
concile myself to it. 

" Mr. and Mrs. Cresfield resided in Stafford- 
shire, where they owned a noble estate, which 
had not long, however, been in their possession ; 
and prior to its being so, they had experienced 
many difficulties which the friendship of my father 
had not only alleviated, but in a great measure 
enabled them to overcome. That friendship, how- 
ever, as well as the afflictions which it had soft- 
ened, was utterly forgotten. They lived in a 
continual round of luxury and pleasure, without 
ever bestowing a thought upon the distresses of 
their fellow-creatures.. ..distresses, the self-expe- 
rience of which should at least have taught them 
to commiserate. 

" In their house I first beheld lord Gwytherin. 
About the time I became an inmate of it, he had 
just returned from his travels, and made frequent 
excursions from Wyefield, where he had taken 
up his residence, for some months, to visit them. 

" You can better conceive what he was, at the 
early period I am speaking of, from what he is 
now, than from any description I could give 
you.... 

" His faultless shape appeared with ev'ry grace, 
" While beauty sat triumphant in his face." 

Yet, notwithstanding the mental and personal 
attractions, which he possessed, I should not, per- 

A 2 



6 NOCTURNAL VISIT. 

haps, have experienced a warmer feeling for him 
than admiration, had he not distinguished me by 
the most delicate and insinuating attentions.... 
attentions which seemed so much to result from 
a consciousness of my unpleasant situation, and a 
wish to alleviate it, that they gradually sunk upon 
my heart, and inspired it with the liveliest ten- 
derness for him. 

" Against the progress of a passion, however, 
which I believed to be hopeless, for to pity, not to 
love, I ascribed the conduct of lord Gwytherin, 
I made the most strenuous efforts ; but vain were 
my attempts to oppose or overcome it, whilst the 
object who had inspired it, was almost continu- 
ally before me. Dejected, restless, and appre- 
hensive that every eye would penetrate into the 
recesses of my heart, I no longer disliked the 
solitude to which the cold and repulsive manners 
of Mrs. Cresfield and her daughters had so often 
before driven me, since it gave me an opportu- 
nity of indulging, without restraint, my feelings. 

" As I was sitting one evening, absorbed in 
melancholy meditations, in a little sequestered 
bower in the garden, whither I had retired from 
the drawing-room, which was crowded with com- 
pany, a sudden rustling amidst the surrounding 
trees alarmed me ; and looking up, I beheld lord 
Gwytherin. Confused by his unexpected appear- 
ance, for in my countenance I feared he could 
read what was passing in my heart, I started from 
my seat, and attempted to pass him ; but he pre- 
vented me. 

4 No,' cried he, catching my hand, ' you must 
not leave me, you must not deny me this oppor- 
tunity. ...an opportunity which I have long anxi- 
ously sought, for disclosing my sentiments to you.' 



NOCTURNAL VISIT. 7 

" He gently forced me back as he spoke ; and 
kneeling before me, avowed a passion not more 
fervent than honourable.... a passion which he pro- 
tested he had felt almost from the moment he 
had known me. I leave you to judge of the feel- 
ings this avowal excited. Language would be 
weak to describe them, or the transports he seem- 
ed to experience, on drawing from me a confes- 
sion of my attachment. 

' How perfect would the happiness of this mo- 
ment be,' he exclaimed, ' could I immediately 
unite my fate to yours ; but to do so at present, is 
out of my power.' 

" He then proceeded to inform me, that he 
was not yet of age, and that until he was, our 
union could not take place, as he well knew his 
guardians would never consent to it ; and entreated 
me, in order to prevent any disagreeable remon- 
strances from his friends, not to mention his in- 
tentions until they could be carried into execution. 
Shocked at the idea of his incurring their dis- 
pleasure on my account, I was, for some minutes, 
unable to speak ; nor would I give him the pro- 
mise he desired, until assured, the friends, whose 
resentment I feared his exciting, had no right to 
controul his actions. He expressed the greatest 
satisfaction at receiving it.. ..a satisfaction which 
I little imagined at the time, I should ever have 
discovered to proceed from the hopes it gave 
him, of being able to entangle me completely in 
his snares. 

" He departed forWyefield soon after the expla- 
nation which had taken place between us, leaving 
me in a state of greater happiness than, a short 
period before, I thought I should ever again have 
experienced* 



8 NOCTUNAL VISIT. 

" About a week after his departure, as I was 
wandering one day through some of my favourite 
haunts, indulging the most agreeable ideas, a 
country boy came up to me, and putting a sealed 
paper into my hand, ran off directly. The man- 
ner "in which it was delivered, threw me into an 
agitation that scarcely permitted me to stand.... 
an agitation which was not lessened, when, on 
opening it, I perceived the signature of lord Gwy- 
therin. He informed me, that he was then con- 
cealed in the neighbourhood, whither he had come 
for the purpose of speaking to me on a most im- 
portant subject, and entreated me to meet him, 
about eight in the evening, in a grove of elms,, 
which stood at the extremity of the park. 

" This mysterious billet conjured up a thou- 
sand phantoms to distract and affright me. I 
fancied he was come to tell me we must part ; that 
his friends had greater authority over him than he 
at first imagined, and had insisted on our separa- 
tion. From what I have said, you may well be- 
lieve that the hours which intervened, till the 
one appointed for our meeting, were passed by me 
in the most restless anxiety. 

" On reaching the grove, I found him already 
there. Pale, faint, overpowered by the violence 
of my emotions, I sunk into his expanded arms, 
unable to speak, almost to breathe. His transports, 
his caresses, his impassioned language, by degrees 
re-animated me ; and when I looked in his face, 
where pleasure alone was visible, all the apprehen- 
sions which oppressed me, vanished like mists be- 
fore the sun. 

1 lam come, my most lovely and beloved girl,' he 
said ' to put your affection for me to the test. Some 
very particular and unexpected circumstances;, too 



NOCTURNAL VISIT. 9 

tedious here to explain, compel me to go in a very- 
short time to the Continent. How long I may- 
continue there is uncertain, and from that incerti- 
tude I cannot support, with any degree of tranquilli- 
ty, the idea of quitting the kingdom without call- 
ing you mine. Consent, therefore, to accompany 
me immediately to Scotland ; and be assured/ ad- 
ded he, observing me extremely agitated by this 
unexpected proposal, 4 1 never should have thought, 
much less asked you to accede to such a measure, 
could I flatter myself with any hopes of being in 
the kingdom, or able to return to it, on becoming 
my own master.' 

" My heart seconded his wishes ; but a recol- 
lection of my father's dying injunction... .an in- 
junction which I solemnly vowed to observe, never, 
whilst I remained unmarried, to take any material 
step without consulting my brother, opposed my 
compliance with them. 

t Suffer me, my lord,' cried I hesitatingly, < suf- 
fer me to consult my brother.' 

i I would,', replied he, i with pleasure, were I 
not so situated that it is impossible for me to admit 
of any delay. And why,' my Isabella, he continu- 
ed, with all that softness which he knew so well 
how to assume, < why desire an event delayed, 
which, if you love like me, must surely contribute 
to your happiness as well as mine. The moment 
our union takes place, your brother shall be ac- 
quainted with it. I mean to place you under his 
protection until I can publicly acknowledge .you, 
and thereby prevent any censure that might other- 
wise fall upon you, for withdrawing yourself from 
the protection of your friends : come then, my 
love, no longer hesitate.' As he spoke he attempt- 
ed to draw me forward, but I resisted the effort. 



10 NOCTURNAL VISIT. 

i I cannot, my lord,' said I, \ indeed I cannot 
violate the promise which I gave my father, of 
consulting my brother upon every important oc- 
casion.' 

S I see, I see how it is,' he exclaimed, in a pas- 
sionate accent, and relinquishing my hand, ' you 
do not love. I am sorry, madam, you did not be- 
fore undeceive me. Had you sooner done so, I 
should not have found it so difficult to erase the 
impression you have made upon me, as I fear I 
now shall ; but my reason, I hope, in time, will 
enable me to overcome it.' 

" He walked from me as he spoke, and I imagin- 
ed he was quitting me forever. I attempted to 
speak, but passion choaked my utterance. Lord 
Gwytherin paused, and looked back ; he observed 
my emotions, and after standing a minute, as if 
irresolute, he returned. 

* If I have accused you unjustly of indifference,' 
he said, 4 as these tears almost make me flatter my- 
self I have, you must blame yourself alone for my 
having done so. Oh, Isabella ! why inflict un- 
necessary pain upon yourself and me? Why 
hesitate to comply with wishes which spring from 
the tenderest affection V 

" He saw, by my looks, that the hesitation was 
over ; and catching me in his arms, he conveyed 
me to a chaise, which waited at a little distance 
from the grove, and which drove off the moment 
we were seated in it. 

" He now exerted all his eloquence to calm my 
perturbation, and reconcile" me to myself; assur- 
ing me, that the sudden exigency of the case fully 
acquitted me of any breach of duty to my departed 
faher. 



NOCTURNAL VISIT. i l 

u We travelled several hours without interrup- 
tion ; at length the carriage stopped, and glancing 
from the window, I perceived we were before a 
spacious mansion, surrounded, as well as I could 
discern by the imperfect light which the night 
afforded, by extensive plantations. 

* Surely, my lord,' said I, somewhat surprised, 
• this cannot be an inn?' 

*■ No,' replied he, ' it is a mansion over which 
your power will be as sovereign as over my heart.' 

" The shock I received on hearing I was brought 
to his house, cannot be described. The glaring 
impropriety of such a measure in my present situa- 
tion, overwhelmed me with confusion and dismay. 

u But ere I cotild express the feelings it excited, 
the carriage-door was opened, and I was lifted from 
it, and conducted by lord Gwytherin into a magni- 
ficent parlour, lit up in such a manner as convinc- 
ed me he was expected. 

* Oh, my lord !' I cried, < what have you done... 
why have you brought me hither V 

" He could not avoid doing so, he said, as he had 
some affairs to settle ere he pursued his journey 
to Scotland ; but begged me to compose my spirits, 
as it would be resumed early the next morning. 

" Regardless of what he said, I insisted upon 
being conducted to some inn in the neighbour- 
hood ; but he peremptorily refused to let me leave 
his house, and reproached me for harbouring doubts 
of his honour, which alone, he was convinced, could 
have made me desire to quit it. 

' No, my lord,' I replied, 'I do not doubt your 
honour; if I did so now, I should be the most 
wretched of women: but neither your ^honour nor 
my innocence can, in despite of appearances, pre- 
vent your domestics from forming unpleasant 
surmises respecting me.' 



! 2 NOCTURNAL VISIT. 

c Oh, if your objection,' he said, { to remaining 
here, merely proceeds from the cause you have 
mentioned, I can easily obviate it ; the manner in 
which we are situated with respect to each other, 
is known to my family, and also the reason of our 
coming hither.' 

" He tried to calm my agitation, and reconcile 
me to my situation ; but he could not succeed in 
doing either. I felt restless and dissatisfied ; and 
entreated him to permit his housekeeper, or some 
respectable female belonging to his family, to be 
brought in, to give, by her presence, some kind of 
sanction to it : but with this entreaty he would not 
comply, and appeared so offended by it, that I 
feared to repeat it. An elegant supper was served 
up, and he became all life and gaiety. The mo- 
ment the things were removed, I expressed a wish, 
but to no purpose, to retire. 

" He drew a chair close to mine*, and from the 
most ardent professions of affection. ....professions 
to which I listened with a pleasure that was too 
. evident, he gradually began to converse in a style 
which both alarmed and surprised me. Almost 
in the words of Eloisa, he declared that love could 
never exist for any time, but in a state of perfect 
freedom ; and that the gratitude with which a 
woman, who reposed unlimited confidence in his 
honour, must inspire a generous man, would bind 
him more firmly to her* than any human ties 
whatsoever. 

' Could I believe you were now speaking your 
real sentiments, my lord,' said I, at length inter- 
rupting him, i I should be wretched indeed.' 

" My looks corroborated the truth of this asser- 
tion ; and lord Gwytherin, perceiving the agitation 
into which he had thrown me, and fearful of having 



NOCTURNAL VISIT. ! S 

awakened suspicions which might put me on my 
guard against his further artifices, immediately 
changed the conversation, which he protested was 
merely introduced for the purpose of trying what 
effect it would have upon me. 

" He now talked with rapture of the joys of wed- 
ded love, and entirely dispelled the uneasiness 
which his railing against it, but a minute before, 
had created. But though the subject on which he 
was conversing was delightful to me, I could not 
forget that propriety demanded my leaving him. 
All my efforts for doing so, however, were ineffec- 
tual ; and at length, clasping me to his bosom, he 
asked why I should wish to quit him, since he al- 
ready considered me as his wife ? I gazed on him 
a minute in silence, without comprehending his 
meaning ; but when he ventured to explain it.... 
when he ventured to unfold his wishes and designs, 
I burst from his arms with mingled horror and in- 
dignation. 

4 Oh, my lord!' I cried, in an agony which 
scarcely allowed me to be articulate, < is this the 
delicacy, is this the honour I had a right to expect 
from you ? Have you then imposed upon my 
credulity ? Tell me, tell me,' I continued, oppos- 
ing his efforts to speak, 'what are your real inten- 
tions respecting me ? Do not attempt any longer 
to deceive either yourself or me with false hopes ; 
for, before that Heaven, which, I trust, will ever pro- 
tect me from any snares that may be laid for me, 
I swear, never willingly to commit an error.' 

4 My intentions respecting you are what tliey 
always were,' he replied. 

|l " This evasive answer did not satisfy me. 'Be 
more explicit, my lord,' I cried, with increasing 
agitation. 

B 



14 NOCTURNAL VISIT- 

< They are honourable then,' said he, and again 
Attempted to fold me to his bosom ; but I shrunk 
from him. 

' If you do not wish to make me doubt the truth 
of this assertion, my lord,' I said, ' you will not 
persevere in treating me in this manner, nor any 
longer detain me.' 

4 Only till I have obtained your forgiveness,' he 
replied, < for the unintentional offence I have given 
you. ..an offence, which if you loved like me, you 
would easily pardon.' 

" He knelt at my feet, and conjured me not to 
leave him in displeasure ; solemnly assuring me, 
by an early hour in the morning every thing should 
be ready for resuming our journey, as he was im- 
patient to prove that his intentions were never 
otherwise than honourable towards me. 

" Again persuaded by his sincerity, I granted 
the pardon he solicited, and a servant was then 
summoned to conduct me to my chamber. I dis- 
missed her upon entering it, and having secured 
the door, I flung myself upon a chair, too much 
agitated to think of retiring to rest. As I sat, 
revolving the conduct of lord Gwytherin, which 
alternately excited hope and fear, I was suddenly 
startled by a low noise, apparently within the 
chamber. Trembling, I looked towards the. spot 
whence it proceeded, and perceived a door, "which 
I had not before observed, half open. I instantly 
flew to the one which communicated with the gal- 
lery ; but ere I could unlock it, the other was 
thrown open, and an elderly woman entered the 
room. I shrieked involuntarily on seeing her. 
i Do not be alarmed,' cried she ; 4 1 am come, not 
to injure, but to serve you.' 

" She approached me, and taking my hand, re- 
conducted me to a seat. 



NOCTURNAL VISIT. 15 

* Explain,' said I, in faltering accents, < the 
meaning of your words ; they have conjured up 
the most horrible ideas in my mincU Tell me, 
tell me, are my apprehensions just ? Is lord Gwy- 
therin a....*' 

'Villain!' exclaimed the stranger; < yes, too 
surely ; and if you wish to preserve that innocence 
which I imagine you possess, you will fly his house, 
to which you have been allured for the vilest pur^- 
poses !' 

" You, I am sure, my dearest Jacintha, can bet- 
ter conceive than I can describe, what my feelings 
were at this moment. The human heart, indeed, 
I believe, cannot experience a greater pang, than 
what is inflicted by finding its confidence and af- 
fection misplaced. 

" The good woman proceeded to inform me, 
that she acted in the capacity of house-keeper in 
the castle ; and that she had discovered lord Gwy- 
therin's designs against me, by means of a confi- 
dential servant, unworthy indeed of the appellation, 
whom she overheard disclosing them to another 
domestic. 

u His lordship discovering, through his conver- 
sations with me at Mr. Cresfield's, that he could 
never hope to succeed in his intentions if he at 
once avowed them, used all the art he was master 
of to make me believe them honourable, and draw 
me into his power. On bringing me to his man- 
sion, it was his intention first to try and overcome 
my principles by arguments and flattery ; and if 
these failed, to represent the irreparable injury I 
had done my character, by flying with him from 
the protection under which I had been placed, and 
by convincing me, that the world would give no 
credit to my asseverations of innocence, tempt me 
to lose it in reality. 



1 6 NOCTURNAL VISIT. 

* Such, madam,' continued this worthy woman, 
* was the project of my lord ; happy do I feel at 
having discovered and defeated it.' 

4 I am punished, I am properly punished,' cried 
I, throwing myself upon the ground, in an agony, 
4 for breaking my promise to my dying father. 
Oh God !' I continued, 4 suffer my remorse to pal- 
liate my fault ; forgive me, and extend thy pro- 
tection to me !' 

" Mrs. Seymour, who had acted the part of a 
guardian angel to me, raised, and endeavoured to 
comfort me; but I interrupted her efforts. 

4 You know not,' I wildly exclaimed, 4 the hor- 
rors of my situation. I have no home, no friend 
to receive me ; and my reputation is gone, I fear, 
forever.' 

4 No,' replied Mrs. Seymour, 4 future propriety 
will do much towards retrieving it ; and be as- 
sured, I shall ever be ready to vindicate it; and I 
flatter myself -my evidence would not be disre- 
garded.' 

4 But where- am I to look for a shelter ?' I ex- 
claimed. 

4 If you have no objection,' she said, ' to quit- 
ting the kingdom, I think I can procure you an 
asylum, perhaps not less pleasant than the one 
from which lord Gwytherin withdrew you.' 

44 AU places, I replied, were alike to the un- 
happy. 

44 She then informed me, that a young lady, well 
known to her, and who she knew would grant any 
request she made, had, on her way fromLondon 
to her family in Ireland, stopped, th& preceding 
day, at an inn near Wyefield, where a slight in- 
disposition still detained her. To her she said she 
would send me, with such a letter as, she was 



NOCTURNAL VISIT. 17 

convinced^ would procure me her friendship and 
protection. 

" I blessed her for her kindness ; but though 
the distraction of my mind was somewhat relieved 
by it, nothing could lessen the anguish I felt at the 
perfidy of lord Gwytherin ; and notwithstanding 
my resentment and indignation at the injuries he 
had meditated against me, I wept involuntarily at 
the idea of our eternal separation." 

" I can well, indeed," said Jacintha, " conceive 
what you must have felt." 

Mrs. Decourcy paused for several minutes, and 
then resumed her narrative, as follows : 



b 2 



IS NOCTURNAL VISIT. 



CHAP. II. 



" What have I done, ye now'rs ! what have I don§, 
" To see my youth, my beauty, and my love, 
" No sooner gain'd, but slighted and betray'd; 
" And like a lose, just gather'd from the stalk, 
" But only smelt, and cheaply thrown aside, 
M To wither on the ground ?" 

DRYDEN. 



" MRS. SEYMOUR continued with me 
the short remainder of the night, part of which 
she employed in writing the introductory letter 
she had promised ; and early in the morning, ere 
any of the rest of the family had risen, she con- 
signed me to the care of a servant, in whom she 
could confide, to be conveyed by him to the inn 
where miss Decourcy lodged. 

" She was up by the time we reached it. The 
letter was taken to her by the woman of the house, 
and I remained below till I received a summons 
. tp attend her. Language is inadequate to give 
you any just idea of the admiration I felt on be- 
holding her. To all the charms of early youth, 
and youth, as an author* has observed, itself is 
beauty, she united the most attractive charms of 
face and person, and was altogether one of the 
most lovely creatures I had ever seen. She as- 

* P. Thicknesse. 



NOCTURNAL VISIT. 19 

sured me, she should be happy to render me every 
service in her power ; and promised me the pro- 
tection of her grandmother, with whom she re- 
sided. Perceiving me pale, trembling, and agi- 
tated, she insisted on my retiring to a chamber 
immediately after breakfast. To sleep, I found 
impossible ; but though I could not do so, I gladly 
continued in the room several hours, in order to 
try and compose m^ spirits, and reconcile myself 
to the situation into which I was so unexpectedly 
thrown. 

" On returning to miss Decourcy, I was both 
shocked and surprised to find her in tears. She 
started on seeing me, and hastily wiped them 
away ; but no effort could dispel the melancholy 
which clouded her countenance. She told me it 
was her intention to pursue her journey in the 
evening. Previous to my setting out, I wrote to 
my brother an account of all that had befallen me ; 
implored his forgiveness for the rash step I had 
taken ; entreated him to pass over the conduct of 
lord Gwytherin in silence, and endeavour to vin- 
dicate me in the opinion of Mr. Cresfield's family. 

" In the course of the day, Mrs. Seymour found 
means of acquainting me, that I need be under 
no apprehensions of lord Gwytherin's pursuing 
me, as he had not manifested any intention of do- 
ing so, though exasperated at my escape, and 
outrageous with the domestics, whom he sus- 
pected of having favoured it. 

" I cannot well describe the emotions this intel- 
ligence gave me. It destroyed the hope, that till 
this instant, had lingered in my heart, of his be- 
ing touched with compunction for his conduct, 
and seeking me to make atonement for it ; and I 
commenced my journey in a state of greater 



20 NOCTURNAL VISIT. 

wretchedness than I had ever before experienced* 

" Miss Decourcy appeared scarcely less unhap- 
py ; and it was evident, the pressure of her own 
sorrows rendered her unable to attempt adminis- 
tering any consolation to mine. As she drew 
near her home, however, instead of any longer 
indulging her dejection, she seemed solicitous to 
subdue it ; and succeeded tolerably well in the 
efforts she made for so doing. 

" Her grandmother resided in an ancient man- 
sion in the southern part of Ireland ; not more 
venerable from its antiquity, than the virtues of 
those to whom it had, and still belonged. Hos- 
pitality and benevolence dwelt within it ; and the 
poor and wayfaring hailed with tears of ecstacy, 
the mossy towers of Carrie Owen, assured, on 
reaching them, of receiving the comfort and as- 
sistance they required. 

" The old lady confirmed the promise her 
grand-daughter had made me of her protection. 
With the particulars of my unhappy story, she 
was not acquainted. She was merely imformed 
that I was a deserted orphan, whom Mrs. Sey- 
mour had recommended as a person well qualified 
to be her companion ; and with such a person she 
had long been solicitous of meeting, as her grand- 
daughter went out a great deal, and she then re- 
quired some one to amuse her lonely hours. 

" In her peaceful habitation my mind gradually- 
recovered its lost tranquillity. The remembrance 
of past scenes could not, 'tis true, be obliterated 
from it ; but it was a remembrance which ceased* 
by degrees, to afflict. 

" With regret and surprise I perceived, that 
miss Decourcy had not long returned to her na- 
tive home, ere she became again as dejected as 



NOCTURNAL VISIT- 2 1 

before. She no longer sought society nor amuse- 
ment, as I was informed she had heretofore done ; 
on the contrary, she sedulously avoided both, and 
passed hours in the solitude of her chamber. 
Though her grandmother had attained a period of 
life, which prevented her from being very quick 
in her discernment, a change so great in a being 
she adored, could not escape her notice, nor fail 
of distressing her ; and she frequently asked me, 
with tears, whether I could tell her, or even sus- 
pected the cause of her beloved Alice's melan- 
choly. 

" That I suspected it, was most certain, though 
I did not acknowledge so to her. It was, indeed, 
almost evident to me, that the thorn which rankled 
in the bosom of miss Decourcy, was implanted 
there by disappointed love, and that time and rea- 
son could alone extract it. 

" Four months passed away unmarked by any 
occurrence. At the expiration of this period, the 
venerable Mrs. Decourcy was taken from this 
world to a better one. Her death was sudden ; 
and never, I think, could these beautiful lines of 
Lee have been more applicable than to her : 

" Of no distemper, of no blast she dy'd ; 
M But fell, like autumn fruit that mellow'd long, 
" Ev'n wondered at, because she dropt no sooner. 
" Fate seem'd to wind her up for four-score years, 
" Yet freshly ran she on ten winters more ; 
" Till, like a clock, worn out with eating time, 
" The wheels of weary life at last stood still." 

" This event gave miss Decourcy a pretext for 
indulging, without restraint, or any fears of ex- 
citing unpleasant remarks, the snguish of her 
heart. All the efforts that were made to draw her 
from Carrie Owen were ineffectual ; nor did she 



22 NOCTURNAL VISIT. 

detain any of the numerous friends and relatives 
of her departed parent, who attended the funeral 
obsequies, beyond the hour they were over. 

" But though she shunned an intercourse with, 
society, she no longer avoided my company. On 
the contrary, she appeared to derive a melancholy 
kind of pleasure from wandering with me about 
the romantic scenes surrounding her habitation... 
scenes, the wiidness and solemnity of which suited 
her feelings ; andV by being congenial to, were well 
calculated to sooth them. 

" The mansion was situated upon the coast- 
High and beetling cliffs, which extended in a wild 
series of rocks to a considerable distance, defended 
it from the fury of the waves ; and immediately 
at its rear rose a hill, or rather mountain, wooded 
to the top, and which equally sheltered it from the 
fury of the winds. Amidst its hanging shades, a 
variety of wildly devious walks were cut, which 
commanded the most enchanting and extensive 
prospects. But no description I could give, could 
convey any just idea of the beauties of this place, 
though the impression they made upon my mind 
is not by any means effaced. I still, with enthu- 
siastic delight, retrace in imagination my favourite 

haunts about it still wander upon the sea-beat 

shore, where the rocks, rising in the form of an 
amphitheatre, exhibit a romantic scenery, with 
which the eye can never be tired, and explore 
their deep recesses, bestrewed with shells, and 
hung with weeds and plants of the most vivid co- 
lours. 

" I often imagined, in our lonely rambles, miss 
Decourcy seemed inclined to unburden the sor- 
rows of her heart ; a fear, however, of being mis- 
taken, as well as a fear of offending, prevented 



NOCTURNAL VISIT. 23 

me from appearing to think so. There was, in- 
deeed, a reserve, or, more properly speaking, a 
haughtiness in her disposition and manner, which 
checked the advances of friendship, and still kept 
at an humble distance those whom Fortune had 
placed beneath her. 

" But at length the smothered anguish of her 
heart burst forth. Deeply engaged in conversa- 
tion one evening about past events, we heedlessly 
strayed towards the summit of a cliff which im- 
pended over the sea, and found ourselves upon its 
edge ere we well knew where we were. The mo- 
ment I perceived our danger, I recoiled with hor- 
ror, dragging my companion after me. 

1 Why so alarmed, Isabella?' said miss Decourcy, 
.after pausing for some minutes, as we rested 
against a fragment of the cliff ; ' you have stood 
upon the edge of a much more tremendous preci- 
pice than this.' 

' Yes,' I replied, perfectly comprehending her 
meaning, ' and blessed be the guardian hand which 
snatched me from it!' 

' Blessed, indeed!' she exclaimed, in a kind of 
inward voice ; ' thou wert the peculiar care of 

heaven; but I ' She paused, and looking at 

me with a wildness which appalled me, clasped 
her hands together, and burst into tears. ' O Isa- 
bella!' she continued, as I vainly attempted to 
sooth her, ' I am too wretched to receive conso- 
lation. I am lost, I am what thou mightest 

have been,' she cried, with increasing wildness, 
4 but for the intervention of thy guardian angel V 

' You terrify me !' said I, involuntarily. 

4 Isabella,' she proceeded, c I have almost gone 
too far to recede, nor do I desire to do so. The 
fatal secret, lodged within my bosom, must be dis- 



24 NOCTURNAL VISIT. 

closed to some one, and to no one would I so soon 
divulge it as to you ; but ere I do so, you must 
swear to preserve it inviolable/ 

* I gave her the solemn assurances of secrecy 
she desired ; and seating ourselves upon the cliff, 
she gave me the following narrative, as soon as 
her agitation had somewhat subsided. 

' Ere I touch upon the case of my sorrows/ she 
began, < I must relate a few particulars concern- 
ing my family. My father, the heir of Carrie 
Owen, was twice married. He wedded his first 
lady more in obedience to the will of his father, 
than from inclination. She was an English wo- 
man, of a proud and imperious spirit, and but ill 
qualified to promote domestic happiness.. .the hap- 
piness he was most attached to ; consequently his 
regret upon her decease, which took place soon 
after the death of his father, was not very poignant. 

4 His second lady was the choice of his own 
heart ; and his expectations of enjoying felicity 
with her were never disappointed. The friends 
of his departed lady were highly exasperated at 
this second marriage ; and either were, or pre- 
tended to be, so apprehensive that the children she 
left might be neglected in consequence of it, that 
they entreated to have them committed to their 
care.. .an entreaty which my father complied with. 
They were accordingly sent to England, where, 
in the course of time, they were advantageously 
married. 

fc By this second union, my father had two daugh- 
ters, the youngest of whom I am, and a son. 
Whilst we were infants, he and my mother died; 
and the whole care of us devolved upon his sur- 
viving parent, who, though then far advanced in 



NOCTURNAL VISIT. it 

years, proved herself well qualified for the trust 
reposed in her. 

' She was not, however, rewarded for her at- 
tentions by beholding us all in the possession of 
that happiness she wished us to enjoy* An un- 
fortunate attachment clouded the early prospects 
of my sister, and a still more unfortunate one over- 
whelmed me with despair. My sister, in conse- 
quence of the circumstance I have just mentioned, 
insisted on being permitted to retire to a convent, 
and about the period she quitted Carrie Owen, my 
brother was sent abroad to complete his education ; 
so that I alone remained with my grandmother, 
the sole object for the exercise of that excessive 
tenderness she had always manifested for the off- 
spring of her son. Her partiality for me, in par- 
ticular, she carried almost to a fault, since it ren- 
dered her unwilling to correct, and too ready to 
bestow praise. 

1 Soon after the departure of my brother and 
sister, I was invited by a relation to London ; a*i 
invitation my grandmother gladly allowed me to 
accept, from an idea of the advantages which might 
accrue^ to me from going thither. She thought, 
in short, I could not fail of making a splendid con- 
quest there. My expectations (I will confess my 
vanity) were not less sanguine than her's, and I 
delighted in indulging them, for my disposition is 
ambitious. 

™ The house of my relation was the resort of the 
gaj|^d fashionable; and lord Gwytherin was a 

fHPftt visiter. He soon distinguished me by 
e particularity of his attentions, wliick, from what 
have. said, you may believe afforded me the 
greatest pleasure ; and ere long, he insinuated him- 
self so* completely into my affections, that, not- 
c 



26 NOCTURNAL VISIT. 

withstanding my ambition, the splendid situation 
to which he could exalt me, by making me his 
wife, was hut a secondary consideration with me 
for wishing him to do so. Neither I nor my friends 
entertained a doubt of his intentions being strictly 
honourable ; consequently, he had every opportu- 
nity he could desire of being with me. 

' These opportunities he turned to the basest 
purpose. He led me to believe, where there was 
real love, there should be unlimited confidence ; 
and hinted from time to time, it was his fixed de- 
termination never to marry any woman, who did 
not place the greatest security in his honour. In 
short ' 

"Here," proceeded Mrs. Decourcy, "her rising 
agonies for a considerable time impeded her ut- 
terance ; at length, raising her head from my shoul- 
der, against which she had leaned it, she exclaimed, 
* Oh Isabella ! let tears and burning blushes speak 
the rest. 

i Scarcely had he triumphed over what was 
dearer to me than life. ..my honour ; scarcely had 
he degraded me in my own eyes, and rendered 
existence a burden, ere he ceased entirely to see 
me. I wrote to him the most importunate letters, 
remonstrating on the barbarity of his conduct, but 
to no effect: he preserved an inflexible silence- 
Maddened, at length, almost to desperation, I re- 
solved on obtaining an interview with him, and 
compelling him to terminate, at least, the horr#s 
of incertitude ; for still a lingering hope remained 
within my heart, that he yet meant to act honour- 
ably by me. 

4 At the time I formed the resolution of seeing 
him, I discovered he was at his seal at Wyefield* 
I doubted not I could ea i' 



NOCTURNAL VISIT. 27 

with him through means of Mrs. Seymour, whom 
I knew almost from the period of my existence, 
and who, in consequence of the distressed situa- 
tion she had been left in by her husband, a clergy- 
man, was recommended to the situation she now 
filled in lord Gwytherin's family, by the lady with 
whom I resided in London. 

< On reaching the inn in which you found me, 
I feigned indisposition, in order to have a pretext 
for continuing, if expedient, some days at it ; and, 
sending for Mrs. Seymour, I gave her a disguised 
account of the conduct of lord Gwytherin, pre- 
tending that I merely wished to see him, for the 
purpose of obtaining from him some letters which 
he had received from me, under a supposition of 
his being serious in his addresses. 

i She promised to favour my wishes to the uU 
most of her power ; but destroyed ail the plea- 
sure this promise gave, by informing me that 
lord Gwytherin was, at this very time, engaged 
in pursuit of a new object. The despair and dis- 
traction caused by this intelligence, can better be 
conceived than described ; but though the emo- 
tions I betrayed convinced her of my attachment 
for him, I am happy to think, from her manner, 
they created no suspicions of the real cause of 
them. 

6 The very night of the day on which I saw 
her, you were brought to the castle ; and Mrs. 
Seymour, fancying, from what I said, that you 
were the only obstacle to my happiness, deter- 
mined, if possible, to remove you from lord Gwy- 
therin. But do not imagine, in wishing to do so, 
she was actuated by no other motive ; exclusive 
of any considerations about me, she felt truly so- 
licitous, and would hai r e done all in her power to 



28 NOCTURNAL VISIT. 

have saved you from the destruction she saw im- 
pending over you. 

i The morning on which you came to me, I 
met Mrs. Seymour at a little distance from the 
inn ; and was conducted by her through private 
paths, to the castle, where I obtained the so long 
desired interview with lord Gwytherin. I found 
him... .but let me not dwell on what, but to think 
on, almost maddens my brain 1 ; suffice it to say, 
I found his heart was a total stranger to any thing 
like humanity or virtue. He reproached me.... 
yes, he had the insolence to reproach me for 
being instrumental to your escape. I gloried in 
acknowledging I was ; and assured him, that all 
attempts to allure you again into his power,, 
would be ineffectual, as you were now thorough- 
ly acquainted with his artifices, and designs,. The 
truth of this assertion, I s r uppose, he did not doubt, 
by never having made an effort to regain you. 
I left him with a contempt and indignation, which 
time has rather increased than diminished, and 
which have completely destroyed every tender 
sentiment I felt for him ; and, but for one circum- 
stance, were he now to offer me his hand, I should 
reject it with abhorrence.' 

" She wept, she blushed," continued Mrs. De- 
courcy, " and rendered by her agitation any ex- 
planation of her words unnecessary." 

1 Thus,' said she, 4 have I disclosed to you the 
source of that anguish which has so long oppress- 
ed me. ...an anguish beneath which nothing could 
have supported me, but the idea of the cause of 
it being utterly unknown. Were it to transpire, 
I never could survive the discovery. Never would 
I live to experience scorn and neglect. Never 
would I live to find myself sunk to a level with 



NOCTURNAL VISIT. 29 

the most degraded of my sex. Never wo,Jd I 
live to suffer the vain, the arrogant, and malicious, 
to triumph over me ! 

J Amongst my own family are some who would 
enjoy such a triumph. The too great partiality 
of my grandmother created me many enemies, 
and my two eldest sisters, particularly, would re- 
joice at my fall. But I trust they never will have 
an opportunity. I have used such caution, and 
made such arrangements, that it is almost impos- 
sible my unhappy situation should be discovered : 
and that lord Gwytherin will ever expose me to 
the contempt of the world, I have no apprehension; 
for he is more anxious to conceal, than to glory 
in his vices, well convinced, that to avow them, 
would put those upon their guard whom he might 
wish to deceive.' 

" She then proceeded to inform me it was her 
intention never to let lord Gwytherin know any 
thing respecting her child ; and acquainted me 
with the retreat to which she meant to retire, 
when it should be necessary to withdraw from 
public observation. This was an ancient castle, 
near the celebrated lakes of Killarney. It had 
long been in possession of her family ; but, not- 
withstanding the beauty of its situation, had for 
many years been deserted by its possessors, in 
consequence of some dark and dreadful transac- 
tions which had taken place within it. But though 
a superstitious prejudice prevented any of the 
family from inhabiting it, they were too proud of 
this record of their greatness, to permit it to fall 
into utter decay. They accordingly kept a few 
domestics in it, the principal of whom was miss 
Decourcy's nurse, in whom, as in me, she meant 
to repose unlimited confidence. 
c2 



SO NOCTURNAL VISIT, 

" I was to attend her to this neglected dwell- 
ing, whence, after continuing in it some days, she 
was to depart unaccompanied by me, under the 
pretext of visiting some friends, who resided at a 
considerable distance from it ; and at night return 
to a decaying tower, where she meant to seclude 
herself, until all necessity for confinement should 
be over. Her whole plan succeeded according 
to her wishes. At a certain distance from the 
castle, the chaise in which she travelled was dis- 
missed ; and being met by her nurse, she was 
conducted to her destined retreat, in which we 
had contrived to render an apartment tolerably 
commodious for her, and where she could be 
under no apprehensions of a discovery ; for this 
tower, being the scene where all those atrocities 
had been committed, which inspired such a horror 
against the building, was most carefully shunned ; 
as its 

" Mournful chambers held, 
" So night-struck Fancy dreamt, the yelling ghost," 

" Though Loughlean castle had suffered consi- 
derably by the neglect of its owners, its want of 
comfort and cheerfulness was amply compensated 
by its situation ; and I often wondered that taste, 
<is vvell as reason, had not been able to triumph 
over superstition and prejudice, since no where, 
perhaps, could a greater assemblage of beauties 
have been beheld. 

" It stood upon the borders of one of the most 
romantic of the lakes, and commanded a view of 
a magnificent cascade, which, apparently bursting 
through a dark arch of -wood, picturesque in the 
ertreme, fell, with a noise truly appaling, into 
the lake below. 



NOCTURNAL VISIT. SI 

" This lake was adorned with islands of match* 
less beauty. Its enchanting shores were formed 
into a variety of bays and promontories, crowned 
with clustering groves, where the myrtle, the ar- 
butus, and the holly, that, amidst all the rigours 
of winter, retain all the verdure of spring, were 
conspicuous. 

" Mountains, towering to sublimity, the haunts 
of the eagle and the cormorant, who here held 
their unmolested reign, surrounded this lovely 
scenery, and at once exhibited all the bleakness . 
of desolation, and all the richness of cultivation. 
The faintest sound within their deep indented ca- 
verns awoke a thousand echoes, and almost led 
one to believe the fabled accounts of invisible be* 
ings true. 

"Deprived of the society of miss Decourcy, 
for except at night I could not attempt to visit her, 
my principal amusement was derived from wan- 
dering about this . delightful country. In one of 
my rambles I accidentally met a large party near 
the lake, going to embark upon it, amongst whom 
I was not very agreeably surprised at beholding 
Mr. Cresfield's eldest daughter, who was then 
married to an officer, quartered (as I afterwards 
learned) in the neighbourhood. She surveyed 
me for a minute with earnestness, and then 
passed me in silence ; and with a look of con- 
tempt which wounded me to the heart, and de- 
termined me to avoid a second meeting, by confin- 
ing myself in future within the precincts of the 
castle. 

" I must here inform you that all my brother's 
efforts to vindicate my innocence in the opinion of 
Mr. Cresfield and his family, were ineffectual. 
Th£y persisted in believing, or pretending t$ b.e- 



32 NOCTURNAL VISIT. 

lieve me guilty, and said every thing which malice 
could suggest to blacken my character. Their 
enmity against me was imputed by my brother 
(who himself gave immediate credit to my asser- 
tions, and granted the forgiveness I implored for 
my indiscretion) to their disappointment relative 
to lord Gwytherin, with whom they had hoped to 
form an alliance ; which hope they imagined was 
defeated through my means alone, and conse- 
quently could not bring themselves to pardon 
me. 

" About a week after the seclusion of your 
mother, you were born, and immediately conveyed 
by her faithful attendant to a nurse she had pro- 
vided for you." 

" Immediately !" repeated Jacintha, with a 
melancholy look. 

" The unhappy circumstances attending your 
birth," replied Mrs. Decourcy, " prevented her 
from giving way to that tenderness which, no. 
doubt, she felt for you : but to proceed. 

" I now spent the best part of every night with 
your mother, in order to relieve her nurse, who 
found means of visiting the tower in the day-time, 
though I could not, without danger of detection. 
In traversing the lonely pass tges leading to it, I 
often felt a kind of shuddering awe which cannot 
be described, frequently imagining I heard strange 
and mysterious noises in the deserted chambers 
adjoining them. 

" Returning one night from your mother, I was 
startled by the sound of steps within one of these 
chambers. I paused, irresolute whether 1 should 
proceed ; but recollecting how often my fancy had 
before deceived me, and concluding I was again 
under its influence, I summoned my courage 



NOCTURNAL VISTT. 33 

to my aid, and was advancing, when suddenly 
the half-closed door of the chamber opened, and 
by the shadowy light which the moon cast through 
the arched windows of the gallery, I perceived the 
figure of a man coming from it, who, at the first 
glance, I saw was not an inhabitant of the castle. 
I shrieked aloud, and should have fallen to the 
ground, had not the stranger sprung forward and 
caught me in his arms, recalling my fleeting sen- 
ses at the same moment, by mentioning his name. 
Language can convey but a faint idea of the sur- 
prise I felt, on hearing he was the brother of 
miss Decourcy ; who, on receiving the intelligence 
of his grandmother's death, which had reached 
h«n at Naples, immediately set out for his native 
country, contrary to the expectations of his sistei> 
as she imagined he would not think of returning 
to it, until he had completed the tour of Europe. 
From Carrie Owen, where he was greatly disap- 
pointed at not finding her, he had travelled to 
Loughlean castle, at which place he arrived just 
as the gates were about being closed for the night, 
and soon after I had withdrawn from my camber 
to that of miss Decourcy's. 

" His unexpected arrival threw the few domes- 
tics who were in the castle into such confusion^ 
that on descending with him to the parlour, in 
order to satisfy his anxious inquiries about his 
sister, I found them all up ; and one of them 
threw me, into the utmost consternation, by ex- 
pressing her astonishment at not being able to 
lie, when, upon the arrival of her master, 
she had sought me for the purpose of bringing 
me to him. This consternation was not a little 
increased by Mr. Decourcy's informing me it was 
his intention to set out the next morning for the 



24 NOCTURNAL VISIT. 

residence of his sister, -whom he was impatient to 
behold. 

" Unable to devise any scheme myself for pre- 
venting this dreaded measure, I resolved on 
returning to her in the course of the night, and ac- 
quainting her with all which had happened. 

" Accordingly, in pursuance of this resolution, 
I watched in my chamber until I had reason to 
suppose the family were at rest ; then stealing 
from it, I proceeded with cautious steps towards 
the tower, trembling as T passed the chamber of 
Mr. Decourcy, lest he should again start from 
it, and struck with the strangeness of finding me 
again in such a place, insist upon ascertaining the 
motives which brought me to it ; happily, however, 
I reached the tower without interruption. 

" Miss Decourcy immediately perceived nor- 
thing could prevent her brother from persisting 
in his intention, but her making her appearance 
in the castle ; she accordingly determined on do- 
ing so the next morning. Luckily, she was at 
this time nearly recovered ; so that no great ap- 
prehensions could be entertained about her put- 
ting this unavoidable determination into practice. 
In pursuance of it, the next day, at an early hour, 
she quitted her confinement, and by a short and 
solitary path, in which there was little danger of 
being seen, again reached the castle. She account- 
ed to the astonished domestics for coming to it in 
such a manner, by informing them, that the chaise 
in which she had been travelling, had broken down 
within afew miles of it, and that, unable to procure 
another carriage, or even an attendant, she had 
been compelled to pursue the remainder of her 
journey alone, and on foot. 

" This fabricated story imposed upon her brothel* 
as well as the servants ; and not only accounted te 



NOCTURNAL VISIT. 35 

him for her present agitation, but furnished her 
with a pretext for confining herself a few days to 
her chamber. From this period she rapidly re- 
covered her health and spirits. The apprehensions 
which had so long injured both were removed, and 
she seemed again to look forward to happiness. 

" Mr. Decourcy was so delighted with this seat 
of his ancestors, which he had not before seen, that 
he resolved on passing some time at it; proper 
servants, and every thing which could render it an 
agreeable residence, were accordingly provided. 
All the families of respectability in the neighbour- 
hood paid their compliments to him and to his 
•sister ; and again the voice of mirth resounded 
through it, and the feast of hospitality was spread 
within its halls. 

" In the course of my visits with miss Decourcy 
and her brother, I was frequently distressed by 
meeting Mrs. Ottley, the daughter of Mr. Cres- 
field, whom I have already mentioned. She t behaved 
to me, upon every occasion, with a supercilious 
haughtiness, which agitated and embarrassed me, 
and inspired feelings, prophetic of the unhappi- 
ness she was about causing me, by her artifices 
and malice. 

" I had not long been known to Mr. Decourcy, 
ere he distinguished me by the most particular at- 
tentions ; which, as time and reason had com- 
pletely triumphed over my ill-placed passion for 
lord Gwytherin, I received with pleasure... a plea- 
sure that would have been unalloyed, could I have 
flattered myself his sister approved of his growing 
attachment ; but that she did not, I had reason to 
apprehend, more from looks than words however, 
for she always expressed the sincerest regard for 
me. 



36 NOCTURNAL VISIT. 

" His attentions were soon noticed, -and spoken 
of throughout the neighbourhood. The malevo- 
lent passions they excited in Mrs. Ottley's bosom, 
who could not bear even the remote prospect of 
my being elevated to independence, at length burst 
forth into open invectives against me, and provoked 
her to disclose the imprudence into which the in- 
sidious arts of lord Gwytherin had drawn me, but 
which she ascribed not to his machinations, but 
my own levity. She hesitated not to declare, that, 
in consequence of my indiscretion, I had been 
compelled to seek a temporary retirement, which 
.the humanity of miss Decourcy had afforded me 
in Loughlean castle ; and that the evidence of my 
shame was now in the care of a soldier's wife, be- 
longing to the regiment of her husband. 

" Unfortunately, miss Decourey's nurse placed 
you with this woman (of whom she had obtained 
an accidental knowledge, and whose child died a 
short time before you were born), under an idea 
that there could be less danger of a stranger's dis- 
covering the secret of your birth, than an inhabi- 
tant of the neighbourhood. 

" She found means of introducing herself to 
her ; and having ascertained her readiness to ac- 
cept the proposal she was about making her, she 
proceeded to settle all the necessary preliminaries 
for your reception. She informed her that you 
were the offspring of a private marriage, which, 
for many important reasons, it was still necessary 
to conceal ; that your birth, therefore, must be 
kept a profound secret ; and that, if faithful to the 
confidence reposed in her, she should receive a re- 
ward adequate to her fidelity. 

" She vowed to observe the most inviolable si- 
lence respecting you ; but whether from a suspi- 



NOCTURNAL VISIT. 37 

cion of not having heard the truth, or from what 
other motive, I cannot possibly ascertain, she did 
not long hesitate to disclose the secret entrusted 
to her to Mrs. Ottley, who was her patroness, and 
had made several inquiries respecting the infant 
she saw with her. 

" This disclosure, together with the strange cir- 
cumstance of my being left at the castle by miss 
Decourcy, which Mrs. Ottlef had been at pains to 
discover, confirmed every injurious suspicion she 
entertained relative to me ; and, however conscious 
she might have been of violating humanity by the 
reports she propagated, she did not by any means 
think she had violated truth. 

" Ere long they reached the ear for which they 
were principally intended. Shocked and con- 
founded by what he heard, Mr. Decourcy, who 
about this time had made serious proposals to me, 
resolved, after a little deliberation, to acquaint 
me with the particulars he had heard. 

" You may easily conceive my feelings on hear- 
ing them. I acknowledged the imprudence which 
artifice on one side, and credulity on the other, 
had led me into ; but I proudly denied the' other 
charges against me, and indignantly inquired whe- 
ther the conduct of his sister was not a sufficient 
refutation of them ; who, it was not natural to sup- 
pose, would have permitted him to think seriously 
of me, had I acted in the manner that was repre- 
sented. But, alas! her conduct was no corrobo- 
ration of my innocence. She had manifested a 
dislike to our union, which her brother had ob- 
served, and which was now imputed by htm to a 
very different motive from the real one, particu- 
larly as she was prevented, on the present occa- 

D 



S8 NOCTURNAL VISIT. 

sion, from being a strenuous advocate in my fa- 
vour, by the delicacy of her situation. 

" In short, I perceived that nothing could re- 
move the suspicions of Mr. Decourcy, but my 
candid avowal of your name and lineage, with 
which he had but too much reason to think I was 
acquainted; and as it was out of my power to do 
this, we parted, and Mrs. Ottley fully enjoyed the 
success of her malicious scheme. 

u In the meantime miss Decourcy, terrified lest 
her nurse should not be able to evade the interro- 
gatories which she was confident her brother meant 
to put to her, prevailed upon her to take you from 
the woman with whomWie had placed you, and 
go to a distant part of the- country. The idea 
of remaining any longer in a place where I was 
certain I should meet with universal scorn and 
neglect, w^s* insupportable. Miss Decourcy there- 
upon left LoughTean castle with me, immediately 
after her brother^ departure, and returned to Car- . 
ric Owen, sincerely regretting the unhappiness 
which, through her means, I. experienced. 

" Her, spirits again declined, and the vivid bloom 
of youth faded from her cheeks. 

" After a residence of some months at Carrie 
Owen, a neighbouring family, the only one almost 
with which she now kept up any intercourse, pro- 
posed her accompanying .them to France. She 
received the proposal with pleasure, and invited 
me to join her in this excursion ; which I declined, 
from the probability there was of her meeting her 
brother, who, on quitting Loughlean oastle, had 
proceeded to that kingdom. 

" Her nurse, at this period, was in a stjate of 
health which threatened a speedy dissolution, and 
your future destiny now occupied her thoiv 



NOCTURNAL VISIT. 



39 



Afier much deliberation on the subject, it occurred 
to her that my brother, who was now married, 
and in the most embarrassed circumstances, of 
which she obtained a knowledge by the agonizing; 
distress they excited in my -fe^soin, might be in- 
duced to take you under his care, and bring you 
Up as his child, by the advantages with whichit was 
her intention such a measure^shouldbe attended* 
I resisted, however, all her importunate entreaties 
to make this proposal to him, until she had given 
me permission to disclose the secret of your birth; 
without doing which, I jusj^^keaded creating in- 
jurious suspicions in hjp^mind, that might lessen 
me in his esteem anfiaffection 

" He acceded to the proposal ; ai 
solemn assurances of preserving hr 
cret entrusted to him, as pe 



pre 



m 



gave such^ 

t e the se- 

the ap- 



yvu, wth an ■■■ '\ 
to embark fori" 




v" And did my 




cimha. 




fected at 




manner, to -feel 


1 a $^ 


meet no more. 


Her 1? 



Sructicfns, sent 



Seared af~ 

sd by her 

we should 

me were....... 

* Remember, Isabella, that more than life is in 
your keeping; that the hour which injures me in 
the opinion of the world, is the last of my exist- 
ence.' 

" On reaching London, where my brother then 
resided, and had provided obscure lodgings for me, 
I sent for him, and consigned you to his care. I 
then dismissed your attendant, and remained in 
retirement until, he had obtained the curacy of 



40 NOCTURNAL VISIT. 

Wyefield, to which place I soon followed him. 
Mrs. Greville was led to believe I had just arrived 
from Ireland ; and this belief completely prevented 
her from entertaining suspicions of my knowing 
any thing respecting you. 

" Ere long, I found a residence in Wyefield ex- 
tremely unpleasant. The disposition of my sister- 
in-law was by no means congenial to mine, and 
the surrounding scenes revived a thousand painful 
recollections which opposed the return of tranquil- 
lity. I therefore gladly availed myself of an offer, 
made by my kind friend, Mrs. Seymour, who, to 
my infinite regret, died soon after my departure 
from Wyefield, to procure me an asylum in the 
house of the lady with whom miss Decourcy had 
resided whilst in England. 

" But here again my expectations of happiness 
were disappointed. Alas ! how seldom in this life 
are they fulfilled! Lady Markham was capricious 
and arrogant ; boastful of the benefits she confer- 
red, and incensed, if they did not render those 
who received them subservient to her in every re- 
speQt : but unpleasant as was a residence beneath 
her roof, I preferred it to a continuance with my 
brother, in consequence of the selfish and jealous 
temper of his wife. 

" I had not been many months in lady Mark- 
ham's house, ere I received a letter from miss De- 
courcy, informing me of her nuptials with the earl 
of Dunsane, whom she described as possessed of 
every virtue and accomplishment. In consequence 
of this union, she said, her future residence was 
fixed in France, where, she trusted, she should 
find herself amply recompensed for all her past 
sorrows* She desired me to write to her from time 



NOCTURNAL VISIT. 41 

to time, but solemnly enjoined me never to touch 
upon past events. 

u She did not speak of her brother throughout 
this letter ; and her silence respecting him afflicted 
me, for I still nourished his idea, and sometimes 
indulged a hope that he would yet discover the 
injustice he had done me. 

" Some time after the receipt of this letter, as 
I was sitting one evening with lady Markham, list- 
ening to a dissertation upon gratitude from her 
ladyship, the drawing-room door was suddenly- 
opened, and Mr. Decourcy entered. 

" To describe the agitation and confusion into 
which his unexpected appearance threw me, is 
utterly impossible, nor did he appear less affected 
at beholding me. He soon, however, recovered 
his composure, and assumed a sudden coldness and 
reserve in his manner, which prepossessed me with 
an idea of his indifference, and strengthened my 
determination to conceal the real sentiments of my 
heart. Whenever, therefore, we were compelled 
to converse, it was as total strangers, utterly un- 
interested about each- other.. 

" About the time he arrived at lady Markham's> 
where he. proposed making some stay, a gentle- 
man of considerable fortune, who visited there, 
and had for some time distinguished me by very 
particular attentions, tendered me his hand, which 
I unhesitatingly refused, to the astonishment of 
lady Markham, who deemed nie little less than mad 
for doing so., I thought Mr. Decourcy appeared 
somewhat agitated at this juncture ; but the invo* 
luntary hopes this idea excited, vanished before his, 
continued coldness. 

^ Lady Markham took it into her head one day> 
hdbre. him. to inquire into my particular reasons 
a 2. 



42 NOCTURNAL VISIT. 

for rejecting proposals so far beyond my expec- 
tations. 

" Because the person who made them had cre- 
ated no interest in my heart," I replied. 

" She laughed aloud at these words." 6 Why, 
child,' said she, ' people of fortune seldom think 
of consulting their inclinations in marrying ; how 
ridiculous, then, for a person in your situation to 
think of doing sol' 

" I made some reply to this speech, which was 
not agreeable to her ladyship. She began to talk 
of obligations and ingratitude, and I withdrew 
from the room in tears, and hastily turned into an 
adjoining one. 

" Here, as I wept over the remembrance of 
what my faithless fortune promised once, an ap- 
proaching step made me look towards the door, 
and I beheld Mr. Decourcy. A sudden impulse of 
resentment and disdain made me directly turn 
from him ; for at that moment I imagined he had 
conspired with the rest of the world to oppress and 
aillict me. 

< Isabella, said he, ' you will drive me mad if you 
continue to treat me in this cold and repulsive man- 
ner. In vain have I attempted to conquer my 
passion for you ; you still maintain your empire 
over my heart-; and without you 1 find it impossi- 
ble to enjoy any happiness.' 

a The feelings this declaration excited, you may 
/ conceive. I believed he was now convinced 
of the injustice he had done me, and I consented 
to give him my hand, in full confidence of every in- 
jurious suspicion respecting me being obliterated 
fromhis mind. 

" But, alas ! the story which had excited these 
suspicions, was never contradicted j andinmarry^ 



NOCTURNAL VISIT. 43 

ing me, he obeyed the violence of passion, and 
not the dictates of reason. 

" His friends disapproved of our union ; and 
soon after it, lady Dunsane dropped all correspon- 
dence with me, nor has she ever attempted to re- 
new it; not so much, perhaps, from ceasing to 
regard me, as in consequence of a coolness which 
took place between her and her brother from the 
time of her marriage, which he had strongly op- 
posed ; the earl, he assured me, not being by 
any means the character she had represented him 
to be ; and this opposition to their mutual wishes 
was never forgiven by either party. 

" The hospitality of Mr. Decourcy's ancestors 
had considerably injured his fortune ; he therefore 
received with pleasure a proposal, made him soon 
after our marriage, of residing in the East-Indies 
with a rich relation, who promised, if he accepted 
his invitation, to make him his sole heir. 

" I will not tire your patience, nor wound your 
feelings, by dwelling upon the sorrows I experienc- 
ed in India, in consequence of the loss of several 
lovely children. But their death was not my only 
source of affliction. Deep fits of melancholy fre- 
quently seized Mr. Decourcy, which generally 
ended in wild and passionate inquiries concerning 
the mysterious transactions in Ireland ; and too 
late I was convinced that suspicion, like a subtle 
venom, is never to be extracted ; and that, like 
remorse, it has power to poison every enjoyment. 

" You may wonder, perhaps, at my suffering him 
to retain ideas so injurious to my felicity, when it 
was so completely in my power to remove them. 
But, in the first place, I was bound by a solemn 
oath never to disclose the secret of your birth to 
him ; and in the second, I was well aware I should 



44 NOCTURNAL VISIT. 

endanger his existence if I did ; convinced, from 
his proud and vindictive spirit, he never would 
rest, if once acquainted with them, until he had re- 
venged, or at least attempted to revenge, the in- 
juries of his sister, or, more properly speaking, 
the wound that had been given to the pride, the 
dignity, the honour of his ancient house. 

" To enjoy even a moderate share of happiness 
in the married state, without mutual confidence, 
is utterly impossible ; and though I am certain 
the most perfect affection subsists between Mr. 
Decourcy and me, we are, notwithstanding, 
wretched and dissatisfied, in consequence of the 
unhappy doubts engendered in his mind. 

" These doubts were almost fatally confirmed by 
the discovery Mrs. Greville made respecting you ; 
and the conduct of Mr. Decourcy upon that oc- 
casion affected me so deeply, that, terrified by the 
situation to which he had reduced me, he solemnly 
vowed never again to touch upon the subject which 
had distressed me, provided I consented to give 
you up. Regard for you, and the pride of injured 
innocence, then strong within me, made me 
peremptorily refuse doing this." 

" Oh ! for heaven's sake, my dearest madam," 
said Jacintha, " no longer refuse to do so, no longer 
let me be a bar to your happiness !" 

" ,We will speak of this hereafter," replied Mrs. 
Decourcy. 

" My motives for refusing lord Gwytherin's re- 
quest, to inform you of the connection existing 
between you and him, originated in my fears of 
its being further discovered by such a disclosure : 
your prudence, however, and his consideration wilt, > 
I. trust, render these fears ill-founded*- 



NOCTURNAL VISIT. 45 

" His lordship's mysterious wanderings about 
the house, were not by any means calculated to 
tranquillize the mind of Mr. Decourcy ; and con- 
sequently, by further disturbing it, they added to 
my unhappiness...an unhappiness to which you 
may impute the reserve and gloom which have late- 
ly marked my manner. Again Mr. Decourcy 
proposed " 

" Parting with me," said Jacintha, observing she 
paused, and appeared greatly embarrassed. " I 
entreat you, my dear madam, no longer to refuse 
complying with his wishes. I can well account 
for the feelings which give rise to them. But is 
there no way of removing his suspicions ? Must 
you still continue to be punished for the faults of 
others ?" 

" None, but by a breach of faith, which is notj^o 
be thought of," replied Mrs. Decourcy. " But I 
think I should in a great measure prevent their 
causing me uneasiness, by acceding to his wishes." 

" Can you then hesitate a moment about ac- 
ceding to them, my dearest madam ?" asked 
Jacintha. 

" I have only hesitated on your account," re- 
plied Mrs. Decourcy. " I knew not what reason 
to assign to you for sending you from me. The 
explanation, however, which lord Gwytherin has 
led to, has given me an opportunity of assigning 
the real one, and, consequently removed my re- 
luctance to comply with what Mr. Decourcy 
desires ; since, should a separation take place be- 
tween us, you will now be convinced it is not oc- 
casioned by any diminution of affection on my part, 
as you might otherwise have supposed, if ignorant 
ef the cause of it* 



46 NOCTURNAL VISIT. 

" Humanity, as well as regard, urges me to do 
every thing in my power to assuage the wretched- 
ness experienced by Mr. Decoui?cy....a wretched- 
ness, which can only be conceived by those who, 
like him, at once 

" Dote, yet doubt 1 suspect, yet strongly love." 

" The confirmation of his suspicions could scarce- 
ly, perhaps, occasion him greater misery than he 
now feels. How, harbouring such suspicions 
against me, he could have thought of uniting his 
fate to mine, may, perhaps, excite your wonder : 
but ere they were awakened in his mind, his affec- 
tion for me was too firmly established to be eradi- 
cated by any thing but the most convincing proofs 
of my guilt. Believing he could not enjoy happi- 
ness without me, and finding it impossible to win 
me upon any other than honourable terms, he at 
length yielded to the violence of his passion, and 
made me his. 

" Thus have I tried to account for what might 
otherwise appear inconsistent and unnatural, though 
only, my dear Jacintha, to such as, like you, were 
not well experienced in life, which daily furnishes 
instances of still greater inconsistency than what 
appears in the conduct of Mr. Decourcy. 

" He has solemnly assured me, my parting with 
you shall not render him unmindful of your interest. 
He has also, in order to furnish a plausible pretext 
for doing so, proposed going immediateiy to Portu- 
gal, a place he has long been desirous of visiting. 
Your situation relative to Mr. Oswald, which it must 
naturally be supposed inclines you to remain where 
you can receive the earliest intelligence of him, 
will be quite a sufficient reason for your not ac- 
companying us." 

" Undoubtedly," replied Jacintha. 



NOCTURNAL VISIT. 47 

■"But where can I find such a residence as I 
would wish to place you in ?" said Mrs. Decourcy. 

" I can easily remove all anxiety upon that head, 
my dear madam," cried Jacintha. " My friend, 
miss Frankland, of whose marriage I have long 
since informed you, has repeatedly expressed her 
earnest wishes to see me at her seat in Essex : I 
will therefore, with your permission, write to her 
to-day, and acquaint her with my intention of pay- 
ing her a visit." 

" This idea composes my mind," said Mrs. De- 
courcy, " and divests it of all uneasiness at the idea 
of parting from you, but that which must be felt at 
a separation from those we love." 

" But how, my dear madam," asked Jacintha, re- 
curring to Woodville's letter, which she had put 
into Mrs. Decourcy's hands, previous to the com- 
mencement of her narrative ; " how am I to act 
relative to Mr. Woodville?" 

" You must acquaint him with the truth," said 
Mrs. Decourcy ; " I see no other method by 
which you can acquit yourself in his opinion. 
However unwilling I may be to expose your 
mother to the slightest degree of censure, yet I 
cannot think of sacrificing to that unwillingness, 
the reputation and peace of her daughter. The 
secret you will entrust to Mr. Woodville will, I 
am confident, be as secure in his bosom as your 
own. Until you meet, you must not divulge it, 
lest any accident should happen to the letter. 
Mrs. Derwent is wary and suspicious. *She has 
always detested her sister, and would rejoice, I 
am certain, at having the power of injuring her 
in the estimation of the world. All you can, 
therefore, do at present, is to write to Woodville, 



48 NOCTURNAL VISIT. 

and entreat him to suspend his judgment till you 
see him. 

" Blameless in reality and in appearance may 
you pass through life, blessed in the conscious- 
ness of deserving and possessing a spotless repu- 
tation! And in the tender affection of an amiable 
man, may you find an ample recompence for the 
unavoidable desertion of those who were bound 
by the ties of nature to protect you ! 

" To hear of your happiness, or in any manner 
to be accessary to it, will ever confer unspeaka- 
ble pleasure upon me. I felt interested about 
you ere I saw you, and I loved you as soon as I 
knew you, and should have been rejoiced could I 
have retained you with me, until I had consigned 
you to the still tenderer care of your beloved Eg- 
bert ; but though disappointed in this wish, I still 
encourage a hope of witnessing, at some future 
period, your felicity with him.* 

Too much affected to speak, Jacintha gently 
raised her hand, and pressed it to her lips. 

" Upon the caution which is necessary to be 
observed in holding any correspondence with lord 
Gwytherin, I need not dwell," resumed Mrs. De- 
courcy. " The secret, which it has cost me so 
much to keep, I am confident you will be careful 
to guard. I will now seek Mr. Decourcy, and 
inform him I mean to comply with his wishes." 

She and Jacintha then parted. The latter re- 
tired to her chamber, where she immediately sat 
down to write to her friend, Mrs. Falkland. She 
also wrote to Woodvilie such a letter as Mrs. 
Decourcy had dictated. 

Her mind was in a great measure restored to 
tranquillity by the explanation which had taken 
place between her and Mrs. Decourcy. The 



NOCTURNAL VISIT. 

restlessness attendant on unsatisfied curiosity no 
longer tormented it, nor was it any longer dis- 
tressed by apprehensions of having lost the affec- 
tion of a person she regarded. She also hoped 
and believed that the unhappy surmises whlc 
present caused a separation between her 
inestimable friend, would at length be overcome 
by the power of united virtue and tenderness, 

On meeting Mr. and Mrs. Decourcy at dinner, 
the altered countenance of the former demon- 
strated the pleasure his lady's communication 
had given him. As soon as alone with Jacintha, 
Mrs. Decourcy informed her that immediate pre- 
parations were to be made for their voyage. Ja- 
cintha advised with her, whether she should ac- 
quaint lord Gwytherin With her removal from their 
habitation, 

Mrs. Decourcy replied in the affirmative ; de- 
siring her, at the same lime, to point out to his 
lordship the necessity there was for being cir- 
cumspect in ail his actions relative to her. 

A letter soon arrived from Mrs. Falkland, ex- 
pressive of very great pleasure at Jacintha's pro- 
mised visit, whose company would now be doubly 
welcome to her, from having lost that of her 
sister but a few days before. 

Three days after the receipt of this letter Ja- 
cintha bade her beloved friend adieu, who again 
assured her of her unaltered regard, and the sin- 
cere pleasure she and Mr. Decourcy would tie 
elerating Iier union with Robert, b) 
ttiov obstacles that might peril 

n his return to Bur 

As the tim r her departure ap 

cd, the resetve of Mr. Decourcy somev 

E 



50 NOCTURNAL VISIT. 

sened ; and the pleasure he felt at the idea of her 
removal, was but too evident. 

Jacintha travelled in his chaise, accompanied 
by the housekeeper, to the residence of Mrs. 
Falkland, which was about thirty miles from his 
house, and which she reached about the decline 
of day. Here she was received with every de- 
monstration of joy by her friend, who, after mu- 
tual interrogations had passed, conducted her 
from the parlour, where she received her alone, 
to the drawing-room, in which a large party were 
assembled preparatory to dinner. 



NOCTURNAL VISIT. 5 I 



CHAP. III. 



" Through the heart 
1 Should jealousy its venom once diffuse, 

* Ye fairy prospects, then, 
' Ye beds cf roses, and ye bowers of joy, 
1 Farewel ; ye gleamings of departed peace, 
1 Shine out your last; the yellow-tinging plague 
1 Internal visions taints, and in a night 
1 Of livid gloom imagination wraps." 

THOMSON. 



ON entering the drawing-room, Jacintha 
was introduced to Mr. Falkland ; a young man 
of elegant manners, and a prepossessing appear- 
ance. 

Amongst the company assembled in it, Jacintha 
was not by any means delighted at recognizing 
sir George Ashton, the gentleman whose trouble- 
some attentions, it may be remembered, had driven 
her from the ball given by Mr. Woodville, upon 
lord Gwytherin's arrival at Wyefield, the preced- 
ing summer. He instantly recollected her; and 
scarcely permitted her to be seated, ere he ap- 
proached to pay his compliments, and express 
the extreme pleasure he felt at meeting her so un- 
expectedly. 

" I assure you," said he, " I almost began to 
despair of ever seeing you again ; and I have been 



NOCTURNAL VISIT. 

quite inconsolable at the idea, for I have thought 
of nothing- but you ever since I first met you." 

" I am sorry your thoughts ha^c not been better 
employed, sir," replied Jacintha. 

" How could they be better employed ?" said Mr. 
Falkland, who stood near her, in a low and insi- 
nuating voice. 

u In many ways, I think," cried Jacintha. 

ik Well, I deserve at least some reward for my 
constancy*" said the baronet; " so pray give me 
some little reason to suppose the pleasure of this 
unexpected meeting is not entirely on my side." 

u . I never attempt to deceive," replied Jacintha. 

u So then," cried he, " you deny feeling any 
Paction at this interview r" 

'• 'Tis unnecessary to deny what has never been 
: led," said Jacintha. 

** Suit as cold as ever; well, though obdurate in 
one respect, I hope you will not be equally so in 
another, nor refuse gratifying the ardent curio- 
sity I feel to learn the strange circumstances which 
took pi ice at lord Gwytherin's masquerade, and 
which 1 have been informed you can well explain?" 

" I must refer you, sir," said Jacintha, ex- 
iremcly provoked at these words, u to those who 
gtive you the information, for the explanation you 
desire." 

u I s< ;-,.. '■■ exclaimed he," you are determined 
to drive me to despair/ ' Then turning carelessly 
upon his heel, lie walked away, humming a new 
air. 

" 'Tis v eed, for the baronet," said Mr. 

Falkland, taking a chair by Jacintha, " that he 
does not possess any great degree of sensibility. 
else lie would, in reality, be driven to despair by 
the recepition lie has met." 



NOCTURNAL VISIT. 53 

" He had no right to expect any other," replied 
Jacintha, smiling* 

" But to know you, and not have wished for 
another, would have been utterly impossible," said 
he. These words were accompanied by a look so 
full of softness and admiration, that Jacintha felt 
herself greatly confused by it, which Mr. Falkland 
perceiving, he immediately ceased from noticing 
her in any particular manner ; and Jacintha, na- 
turally imputing his words and looks to that com- 
mon-place gallantry with which fashionable men 
think it necessary to treat the female sex in gene- 
ral, thought no more of either. 

The company assembled at dinner were lively 
and elegant, and the evening passed away agreea- 
bly in music and dancing; yet not half so plea- 
santly to Jacintha, as if it had been devoted to an 
unrestrained conversation with her friend about 
former events. She heard, with concern, that sir 
George Ashton was at present upon a visit to Mr. 
Falkland, and earnestly inquired from Mrs. Falk- 
land, when she supposed he would depart. On 
this head, however, her friend could give her no 
satisfaction. 

The ensuing day passed as the preceding one 
had done, and Jacintha soon found she was the 
inhabitant of a mansion consecrated to gaiety and 
pleasure ; but in which, with regret, she perceived 
its young and lovely mistress but little participated. 
Her surprise at this circumstance was scarcely less 
than her r;gret, as she knew Mrs. Falkland had 
married the man whom she preferred to all others, 
and was, besi 'ounded with what are con- 

sidered the m< liable tiessings of Iife« Her 

BDtsIa er. cda not long remain a r. 



54 NOCTURNAL VISIT. 

tery to Jacintha; observation, and her candid con- 
fession, fully explained the cause of it. 

Romantic, inexperienced, passionately attached 
to Mr. Falkland, and fondly flattering herself he 
was equally so to her, she had looked forward to 
the enjoyment of the most perfect felicity in her 
union with him. A short time, however, served 
to convince her, her expectations were to highly 
elevated. Wild, inconstant, and dissipated, Mr. 
Falkland, who had married her more for the pur- 
pose of obtaining a settlement from his father, than 
from inclination, soon began to remit those atten- 
tions on which she founded her principal hopes 
of happiness, and relapsed into all his former fol- 
lies and extravagancies, which, by degrees, coming 
to her knowledge, infused the most corroding sus- 
picions into her mind, and completely poisoned 
the fountain of " domestic bliss." But though 
she ceased in some degree to esteem, she could 
not cease in any degree to love; she suifered, 
therefore, continual pain, lest he should at length 
be totally estranged from her. The most trivial 
circumstance awakened all her fears, excited her 
jealousy? and threw her into agonies; and though 
the gentleness of her temper prevented her from 
iang into open reproaches, the dejection of 
her countenance, her sudden emotions, and the 
minute inquiries she made into his actions, suf- 
ficiently explained to him, and to the world, what 
was passing in her he^art. 

Convinced, as\she was, of the levity -of his dis- 
position, her having invited such a guest, so emi- 
nently giftedby nature with every attractive charm, 
as was Jacintha, to her house, may excite some 
surprise. But she still retained too high an opi- 
nion of him, to imagine he would ever attempt to 



NOCTURNAL VISIT. 55 

violate the propriety which he was bound by every 
principle of honour to adhere to, beneath the roof 
where his wife resided, even though he received 
encouragement to do so ; of which, from Jacintha* 
whom she looked upon,as her sister, and into whose 
sympathizing bosom she felt a melancholy kind 
of pleasure at the idea of pouring her sorrows, she 
could entertain no apprehensions. 

Jacintha essayed every art she was mistress of 
to try and console her, beneath griefs which she 
could not avoid acknowledging were difficult to 
bear; but she soon discovered it was utterly out 
of her power to administer consolation to a mind 
diseased like hers. All she could do, was to di- 
vert her thoughts sometimes from the troubles 
which oppressed them, by talking of former events, 
and dwelling upon the rational hopes which might 
be entertained of a change being at length effected 
in the conduct of Mr. Falkland by the undeviating 
rectitude of hers. 

The hopes with which Jacintha endeavoured to 
inspire her, Jacintha herself, in reality, felt. She 
saw Mr. Falkland was not destitute of sensibility ; 
and from the observations she had been able to 
make upon his disposition, she was led to believe 
the errors he committed originated more from a too 
Volatile temper, and early introduction into fash- 
ionable life, than from any inherent depravity, and 
were, therefore, such as might be conquered. 

About a week after her arrival at his house, she 
received a 4etter from Mrs. Decourcy, containing 
the tenderest assurances of unabated regard, and 
informing her that she and Mr. Decourcy were 
on the point of setting out for Falmouth, to em- 
bark for Portugal. This letter was soon followed 
by one from lordGwytherin, in which he expressed 



56 NOCTURNAL VISIT. 

extreme surprise at the departure of Mr. and 
Mrs. Decourcy from England ; and solicitude 
(dictated, he said, by strong* anxiety about I.er 
welfare) to know whether there was any truth in 
the report now in circulation, of their intention 
of making her their heiress. Jacintha, in reply 
to this letter, assured him there was not. That 
all they had ever given her reason to expect from 
them, was a moderate independence, beyond the 
possession of which, she declared, her wishes had 
never soared. 

Her time would have passed pleasantly at Mr. 
Falkland's, but for the uneasiness she experienced 
on account of her friend, whose dejection, or ra- 
ther cause for dejection, became every day more 
and more visible ; and the troublesome assiduities 
of sir George Ashton, which were doubly insuf- 
ferable, from his giving her plainly to understand, 
that he considered any notice from him a very 
particular honour to her. 

Mrs. Falkland appeared extremely agitated one 
evening, at the idea of Mr. Falkland's going to 
a house in the neighbourhood, where she was 
certain he would meet a lady particularly obnox- 
ious to her, from the encouragement she had given 
to his gallantries, and on whose account she had 
declined the invitation which, with him, she had 
received to it. 

Jacintha, per ..her every moment growing 

more uneasy, at length proposed going down to 
Mr. Falkland, and trying to prevail upon him to 
give up his intention of leaving home that evening. 
This proposal was joyfully accepted by Mrs. 
Falkland, whose pride rendered her unwilling 
lo use any solicitations to him herself upon 
subject. 



NOCTURNAL VISIT. 57 

Jacintha accordingly descended from the draw- 
ing-rpom, and sent a servant to infoim Mr. Falk- 
land she wished to speak with him for a minute. 
He instantly came to her. A kind of eager joy 
diffused over his countenance, and leading her from 
the hall, where she stood waiting the return of 
her messenger, into an adjoining parlour, desired 
to know her commands. 

" I am come to tell you," said she, " that your 
company cannot be dispensed will? this evening 
at home. Mrs. Falkland has received some new 
music from London, and proposes having a lit- 
tle concert, in which a very distinguished part is 
allotted to you." 

" And do you really wish me to continue at 
home?" cried he, gently pressing her hand, and 
looking with the most insidious softness in her 
face. 

" Yes, I do indeed," replied Jacintha, rather 
hesitatingly. 

" Then I will this instant send an excuse, but 
too happy in having an opportunity of proving the 
ascendancy you have over me. Oh, miss Gre- 
ville !" he continued, seizing both her hands as 
she was turning from him, " how long have I 
wished for a moment like the present ! How 
long have I wished for an opportunity of disclos- 
ing the sentiments with which you have inspired 
me : From the first minute I beheld you, you 
have been enthroned within my heart. ...my soul 
has paid you secret homage. Nay, do not frown, 
do not look so indignant.. ..tenderness like mine 
surely merits some other return than contempt." 

" Pray release me, Mr. Falkland," exclaimed 
Jacintha. " I am impatient," added she, affect- 
ing not to believe him serious in what he said, 



58 NOCTURNAL VISIT. 

"to return to Mrs* Falkland, and acquaint her 
with the success of my embassy.' ' 

" Not till you reward me for my ready obedience 
to your wishes." 

" A generous mind ever finds a reward in its 
own feelings, for conferring a favour," replied 
Jacintha, still struggling to disengage herself. 

"Then thus I take what you refuse," exclaimed 
he, catching her in his arms, and passionately em- 
bracing her. At this instant, while his lips were 
pressed to hers, and he held her, in a grasp too 
firm for her to break from it, to his throbbing heart, 
the door opened, and sir George Ash ton entered. 
Falkland started, and, instantly releasing Jacintha, 
turned abruptly to a window to conceal the extreme 
confusion he was thrown into, whilst Jacintha, 
overpowered by resentment and indignation, stood 
transfixed, wildly staring at the baronet. 

" Bless me !" exclaimed sir George, after alter- 
nately surveying her and Falkland, " how unfor- 
tunate ! I really ask ten thousand pardons for my 
intrusion." 

Then, with a malicious look at Jacintha, he pre- 
cipitately retired, closing the door after him. 

The moment he quitted the parlour, Falkland 
again approached her. This action directly re- 
stored her suspended faculties, and she flew to the 
door; but ere she could open it, he caught her by 
the gown....." Hear me, miss Greville," cried he, 
" hear me, I conjure you !" 

" Mr. Falkland," said Jacintha, in a solemn ac- 
cent, " if you do not wish me to expose you to the 
contempt you merit, the contempt of your own 
family, you will not detain me another minute." 

Awed by her manner, or rather perceiving she 
was too much irritated at present to admit any 



NOCTURNAL VISIT. 59 

apology for his conduct, he no longer prevented her 
from leaving him ; and she hastened to her cham- 
ber, where she threw herself upon a chair, almost 
breathless from contending passions. 

Offended pride and delicacy would have led her 
immediately to quit a house where she had receiv- 
ed such insulting treatment, had not the unhappy 
consequences which might result from sucn a 
measure, opposed her yielding to the dictates of 
resentment. To depart abruptly, without assign- 
ing some cause fordoing so, was almost impossible ; 
and what cause but the real one could she assign? 
which, if known to her friend, would, she was well 
convinced, give a mortal stab to her peace. In 
pity, therefore, to her, she resolvecj* after many 
struggles with her irritated feelings, to pass over 
the conduct of her husband ; endeavouring to re- 
concile herself to this resolution, by solemnly de- 
termining, if he ever attempted to repeat such con- 
duct, to suffer no consideration to prevent her from 
withdrawing from his roof. 

She tried to hope that it proceeded more from 
the effects of wine, with which it was evident he 
was heated at the moment he came to her, than 
to depravity of principle ; that shame and remorse 
would attend the recollection of it, and, perhaps, 
make such an impression upon his mind, as might 
guard him from similar offences. But, in think- 
ing so, she was utterly mistaken. He was a 
libertine in every respect, callous to shame and to 
remorse, and firmly bent upon essaying every Wt 
he was master of, to inspire her with such a pas- 
sion as she had inspired him ; and which, as he 
boldly declared, he had long been seeking for a 
favourable opportunity of disclosing, flattering 
himself, from the high opinion he entertained of 



60 NOCTURNAL VISIT. 

his own attractions, that the disclosure would 
not be extremely unpleasing. 

The agitation and distress into which his con- 
duct had thrown Jacintha, were greatly increased 
by sir George Ashton having witnessed it; not so 
much from a fear of his mentioning it, for she 
fancied he would not like to provoke the vengeance 
of Falkland, who was fiery and vindictive in the 
extreme, as from an apprehension of his being 
emboldened by it, to treat her with greater freedom 
than he had hitherto done. 

Her reluctance to meet Mr. Falkland, prevent- 
ed her from returning to the drawing-room until 
she was summoned thither to tea. On entering 
it, she found^him, and ail the gentlemen who had 
composed his party, at dinner, assembled there, 
and beheld a smile upon the countenance of Mrs. 
Falkland, which denoted the pleasure she felt at 
his having relinquished his engagement. He 
started from a sofa, upon which he was carelessly 
lolling, the moment she entered, and approaching 
her, attempted to take her hand, and lead her to 
it ; but Jacintha shrunk involuntarily from his 
touch, and, with averted looks, passed him, and 
took a seat near Mrs. Falkland, at the tea-table. 

" I really thought you had run away, my dear 
girl," said Mrs. Falkland, " from your long ab- 
sence." 

" Miss Greville is fond of solitude," cried sir 
George, with a smile, bordering upon a sneer ; 
" but no wonder, she can always employ her 
thoughts agreeably." 

u Not always," replied Jacintha, " for fools and 
coxcombs will sometimes obtrude upon them." 

" But that has not been the case this even 
I flatter myself," said he, looking earnestly at 
her. 



NOCTURNAL VISIT. 6 1 

f< 'Tis not unusual with you to flatter yourself, 
sir George, I believe," cried Jacintha. 

" Why so severe? Why," asked he in a low 
voice, " not let me share a little of that mercy 
you bestow upon others ? I assure you, you would 
not find me undeserving of it." 

" Come, come, Ashton," exclaimed Falkland, 
who appeared uneasy at his whispering* to Jacin- 
tha, " I cannot permit you to monopolize miss 
Greville's conversation." 

u You may not permit, but you cannot be sur- 
prised at my wishing to do so," answered the 
baronet ; " for 'tis natural, you must allow, to try 
and engross what we admire." 

" True," said Falkland; "but this excuse will 
not avail." 

And rising as he spoke, he approached the seat 
of Jacintha, and placed himself by it. She imme- 
diately turned from him, nor could the repeated 
efforts he made for the purpose, obtain the least 
degree of notice from her. She acted, however, 
in such a manner as to prevent Mrs. Falkland 
from observing her altered conduct towards him. 
He at length became offended and ill-tempered, 
and would, in all probability, have left the house, 
had fiot hazard been proposed, contrary to the 
inclination of Mrs. Falkland, who vainly tried to 
introduce a more innocent amusement. 

She and Jacintha were left to amuse them- 
selves the remainder of the evening as they 
pleased ; for the gentlemen did not quit the gam- 
ing-table till the night, or rather morning, was 
far advanced. 

The next day was remarkably fine; and at 
breakfast the ladies were invited to accompany 

F 



62 NOCTURNAL VISIT. 

the gentlemen in an excursion, which had been 
planned the preceding evening. They accepted 
the invitation, and curricles, as well as saddle- 
horses, were accordingly ordered. But when Ja- 
cintha found, by the artful management of Falk- 
land, that she was to be his companion during 
the ride, she positively declined being of the party, 
to the extreme surprise of all, and manifest dis- 
pleasure of her friend, who plainly imputed her 
sudden refusal to the effects of caprice. Nothing, 
however, could shake the resolution of Jacintha, 
firmly persuaded as she was, by certain looks of 
Falkland, that, by accompanying him, she should 
expose herself to language highly disagreeable 
(even in ictea) to her. 

As soon as the party set off, she withdrew to 
the garden, hurt to think she should have given 
her friend any reason to suspect her of an un- 
steady temper; but still more hurt to think of 
Falkland's persevering in his designs against her, 
which she had but too much reason to imagine 
he did, and in- consequence of which she feared 
she should at length be compelled to seek refuge 
amongst strangers. 

All the melancholy ideas her deserted situation 
had ever inspired (without a settled home,*with- 
out a friend to whom she could look up for advice 
and protection), were again awakened, and her 
tears could not be restrained. The free indul- 
gence of those tears, however, lightened by degrees 
the oppression of her heart; and a soft and pleas* 
ing melancholy gradually diffused itself over her 
mind, which the gentleness of the day, and the 
smiling appearance of every thing around her, 
contributed to render still more soothing to her 
feelings. 



NOCTURNAL VISIT. 63 

It was now the middle of April, and the season 
being remarkably mild, vegetation was already 
far advanced. Again the hills and vales were 
clothed in liveries of green ; again the woods 
were prodigal of harmony ; again the dew-bright 
borders of the garden were bedecked with flowers, 
from which the zephyrs that expanded their beau- 
tics, wafted the most delicious fragrance. 

u Ah i" thought Jacintha, " with what different 
sensations did I hail the return of this genial 
season last year ! With what pleasing expectations 
did I then behold the foliage gradually expanding 
....that foliage," added she, with a shuddering 
horror, " which bestrewed with its falling honours 
the grave of my best friend. ...of him whom my 
heart can alone acknowledge as my parent!" She 
paused, and looked up to heaven. " But this re- 
gret," continued she, " is selfish, convinced as I 
am, that death must to him have been a passport 
to joys not less glorious than immortal." 

The tear of tender remembrance, however, 
could not be suppressed ; and seating herself in 
an arbour, which terminated the walk she was in, 
she involuntary yielded to the returning sadness 
of her soul. 

" Shall I ever," she inwardly exclaimed, " shall 
I ever again be pressed to a heart interested as 
was his about me ? Shall I ever again experience 
the pleasures of domestic life ? Ever more become 
the inmate of those peaceful shades which afford- 
ed me so long their shelter.. ..those dear and de- 
lightful scenes of early youth, to which my heart, 
untravelled, fondly turns, forgetful of the sorrows, 
and only recollecting the happiness which it felt 
amidst them... .a happiness which, if possible, ap- 
pears brighter and more perfect huhe retrospec- 



€4 NOCTURNAL VISIT. 

tion, than it did in the enjoyment? But sue 
believe, is ever the case ; our blessings brighten 
as they leave us, and are too often never properly 
appreciated till gone forever ; and 

'* not to understand a treasure's worth 

" Till time has stol'n away the slighted good, 

14 Is cause of half the poverty we feel, 

*' And makes the world the wilderness it is.*' 

From her pensive meditations Jacintha was 
suddenly roused by an approaching step ; and 
raising her head from her hand, she beheld, to 
her inexpressible surprise and displeasure, Falk- 
land, within a few paces of the arbour. She 
instantly started up, in order to leave it, ere he 
could enter, but he was too quick in his motions 
to permit her to do this ; and seizing her hands, 
vow* ould not leave him, until she had 

grc, forgiveness. 

" 1 tention is not the method to ob- 

tain it, I assure you, sir," replied Jacintha, with 
indignation in her voice and countenance, and 
struggling as she spoke, though ineffectually, to 
diser .-('If. 

u Vs by all this coldness and contempt r" cried 
lie; " e I done to incur 

" i heart, sir," replied Ja< 

" and if it be not utterly destitute of ho; 
sensibility, it \\ ill better reply to the interrogatory 
than I can possibly do." 

" My heart can never reproach me for yield- 
ion inspired by the most lovely and 
amiable of her sex," said he. 

" Mr. Falkland," cried Jacintha, with affected 
calmness, "*1 must suppose your presuming to 
repeat the insult you offered me yesterday, is oc- 
casioned by my then forbearing to resent it in 



NOCTURNAL VISIT. 65 

the manner it deserved. Let me now inform you, 
sir, that that forbearance was caused, not from 
wanting either spirit or inclination to resent it, 
but from what I now find was an erroneous idea, 
of your head more than your heart being in error, 
and a wish to avoid any action which could give 
pain to the too vulnerable heart of my friend ; but 
were I now to forbear expressing the resentment 
it has excited, I should consider myself deserving 
of it. I shall prove that resentment not by re- 
proaches, but by quitting your house. ...a house 
in which those ties that even the most common 
of mankind in general regard as sacred, the ties 
of honour and hospitality, have been violated." 

" On my knees I conjure you to drop such an 
intention," exclaimed Falkland. " You will drive 
me to despair, to desperation, if you persevere in 
it.. ..I cannot exist out of your presence." 

" If you knew my thoughts concerning you," 
replied Jacintha, with a smile of contempt, " you 
would rather avoid than wish for it. Let your 
pride, therefore, since you have not virtue to do so, 
interpose to prevent your any longer thinking of 
a woman, who looks upon you as the most abject 
of your sex 1" 

" Then, by heaven !" exclaimed he, wildly start- 
ing up, and clasping her in his arms, " 1'a b<e 
revenged for her contempt 1" 

Jacintha shrieked. " Mr. Falkland," cried she, 
" you will compel me to expose you to the scorn 
of the world." 

" Curse upon the. world !" said he, " I care not 

for its opinion. Riches and consequence will 

always, I know, command its pleasures ; and its^. 

ares more than counterbalance any pain its 

censures may inflict !" 



66 NOCTURNAL VISIT. 

" But the censures of the heart!" cried Jacin- 
tha, almost breathless from her efforts to free 
herself from him, " what can silence these?" 

" The enjoyment of its wishes." And again 
he tried to force her further into the arbour. 

Jacintha again shrieked. At this instant a rust- 
ling was heard among the shrubs which clustered 
near the arbour; and the next moment sir George 
Ash ton stood before it. 

The presence of a beloved friend never inspir- 
ed Jacintha with greater pleasure than did his 
unexpected appearance, raised as were her appre- 
hensions, to the highest pitch of terror, by the 
wild and savage conduct of Falkland. 

" Ha ! Ashton," exclaimed Falkland, with a 
contracted brow, and without releasing Jacintha, 
" what the devil brings you here ? I thought you 
had proceeded with the rest of the party." 

" No," replied sir George, with an air of the 
greatest carelessness, " I changed my mind. I 
thought, like you, a ramble in the garden might 
be productive of greater pleasure than could be 
experienced by accompanying them." 

" Well, why don't you pursue your ramble ?" 
demanded Falkland, impatiently. 

" Hold, sir George!" said Jacintha, perceiving 
he was turning from the Arbour. " I entreat 
you not to go, until Mr. Falkland has released 
me. He detains me here against my inclination ; 
and though he appears to have forgotten the cha- 
racter of a man, by insulting a defenceless woman, 
I trust you will not follow his example, by deny- 
ing her your protection." 

u My dear madam," replied sir George, with 
a bow, " to be your champion upon every emer- 
gency, could not fail of giving me the most su- 



NOCTURNAL VISIT. 67 

perlative pleasure ; but excuse me for thinking 
my services are not requisite at present. I can- 
not believe Mr. Falkland to be so discourteous a 
knight, as to detain any lady perforce." 

a 'Tis rather improbable indeed," said Falkland, 
with a laugh ; " and to prove I am wronged in 
the assertion, since I now understand what the 
wishes of the lady are, I shall set her free." 

" And is it only now you understand them ? Is 
it only now they have been explained to you ?" 
demanded Jacintha. " Oh, shame, shame, Mr. 
Falkland ! I am grieved. ...grieved beyond expres- 
sion, on my friend's account, to find you so lost 
to every principle of honour." 

She then quitted the arbour, and hastened to 
her chamber, where it was long ere she could 
regain a.ny degree of composure, or consequently 
set about making the necessary preparations for 
her departure, which she resolved should take 
place the next day. She proposed returning to 
Beech Grove, and remaining there until she could 
obtain such a residence elsewhere as she wished 
for ; which she doubted not being soon able to 
procure, as she was enabled, by the generosity of 
Mr. and Mrs. Decourcy, to offer the most liberal 
terms for accommodation, in a private and well 
regulated family. 

The hope of being able to procure a safe and 
pleasant asylum, though soothing to her feelings, 
could not perfectly tranquillize them. A fear of 
offending her friend, by her abrupt departure from 
her house, without assigning any reason for it, 
agitated her mind ; nor was it less disturbed by 
the malicious insinuation which Falkland had 
thrown out aeainst her to the baronet, which she 



63 NOCTURNAL VISIT. 

endeavoured to Batter herself, however, proceed- 
ed more from the impulse of disappointed passion, 
than any premeditated design to injure her ; and 
would consequently, if productive, or likely to 
be productive of anything unpleasant, be contra- 
dicted. 



NOCTURNAL VISIT. 69 



CHAP. IV. 



" In her ears the sound 
'* Yet rung of his persuasive words, impregn'd 
•' With reason, to her seeming, and with truth." 

MILTON. 



MRS. FALKLAND and her party (from 
whom Falkland and the baronet had separately, 
and unknown to each other, made a plausible ex- 
cuse for withdrawing), returned earlier than was 
expected from their excursion ; but Jacintha did 
not join them till they were descending to the 
dinner parlour. She studiously avoided the looks 
of Falkland and sir George, though both, by every 
art they could practise, endeavoured to engage 
her attention ; and appeared so dejected and dis- 
turbed, that the affectionate heart of Mrs. Falk- 
land became alarmed. The displeasure she felt 
at Jacintha's refusing to accompany her in the 
morning, vanished, and she eagerly longed for an 
opportunity of inquiring into the cause of her too 
evident uneasiness. 

" Something, I am sure, has happened to dis- 
turb you, my dear Jacintha," said she, the moment 
they re-entered the drawing-room, " for you look 
unhappy." 

" I am indeed unhappy," replied Jacintha, with 
a deep si'.-:h, ," at the idea of leaving you." 



70 NOCTURNAL VISIT. 

"Leaving mei" repeated Mrs. Falkland, witi 
look, and in an accent expressive of the greatest sur- 
prise; " I hope you have no such idea," 

" Indeed I have," said Jacintha. a To-morrow 
I must bid you farewel." 

" Good heaven ! you astonish me. What can 
have caused this sudden determination ? What 
can have happened to make you change your in- 
tention of remaining with me till the return of Mr. 
Oswald } 1 ' 

" My dear Emma,'' cried Jacintha; "be assur- 
ed I am not so great an enemy to my own hap- 
piness, .as to quit your society was it in my power 
to continue with you ; but, in short, you will oblige 
me extremely, you will add to the numerous obli- 
gations I already consider myself under to you, if 
you let me depart, without further interrogatories 
as to my motives for doing so.'* 

" Certainly," answered Mrs. Falkland, in a cool 
and resentful tone. " I should be sorry to intrude 
inquiries upon you, or attempt to extort your 
confidence." 

" I see you are offended," said Jacintha. "Oh 
Emma I" added she, with streaming tears, " if 
you could look into my heart, you would find me 
an object more deserving of pity than of anger." 

" Any anger I feel on the present occasion," 
replied Mrs. Falkland, affectionately embracing 
her as she spoke, "proceeds from the doubts 
which your denying me your confidence, has in- 
spired of your regard. Answer me this one ques- 
tion sincerely.... Has any thing occurred in my 
house to drive you from it ?" 

" I am sure you don't suppose there has," said 
Jacintha, trying to evade the question. 



NOCTURNAL VISIT. 71 

44 There is a mystery in all this which I cannot 
fathom," cried Mrs. Falkland, after a pause of 
some minutes. 

44 Well," said Jacintha, with affected cheer- 
fulness, " a mystery sometimes gives pleasant 
employment to the imagination." 

44 But not in the present case, I assure you," 
replied Mrs. Falkland, gravely. 

" I am certain," said Jacintha, a it would afford 
you no satisfaction to hear I was leaving your 
house, for the purpose of trying whether change 
of scene could divert the unhappiness of my 
mind." 

" And is this your real motive for quitting it?" 
demanded Mrs. Falkland, eagerly. 

u I really think," answered Jacintha, evasively, 
44 change of scene is necessary for me." 

44 And why not acknowledge this before?" asked 
Mrs. Falkland. 

44 Beca.use I did not like to let you know how 
disturbed my mind was." 

Every vestige of pique and resentment now 
vanished from Mrs. Falkland, in consequence of 
her curiosity being satisfied ; and Jacintha rejoiced 
to find that, without any violation of truth, she had 
been able to gratify it. 

She made no secret of the place to which she 
was going, and obtained from her, though not 
without difficulty, a promise to be silent relative to 
her departure, until it had taken place ; for which 
requested silence, she assigned as the cause, her 
dislike to the ceremony of taking leave. 

A servant was now dispatched to a neighbouring 
inn to engage a carriage, which Jacintha ordered 
to be at the door by six o'clock the next morning* 



72 NOCTURNAL VISIT. 

Her mind felt relieved of a heavy burden, by hav- 
ing the disclosure she dreaded over, and every 
thing settled for her journey ; and its tranquillity 
was increased by being allowed to enjoy the com- 
pany of her friend throughout the evening, without 
restraint or observation, as none of the gentlemen 
made their appearance till supper, being engaged 
till then at hazard. 

Mrs. Falkland took leave of her in her chamber, 
with many entreaties for another visit, which Jacin- 
tha, however, would not deceive her by promising. 
In order to avoid any thing like particularity, she 
left a complimentary message for Mr. Falkland, 
expressive of her gratitude for the hospitable at- 
tentions she had experienced from him. 

At the appointed hour, the chaise arrived ; and 
Jacintha, who was already prepared for her journey, 
and impatient to be gone, instantly stepped into 
it. She travelled with such expedition, fearful of 
a pursuit from Falkland or sir George Ashton, that 
early in the afternoon, she came svithin sight of 
Beech Grove. 

Her heart bounded with transport when, through 
its encircling trees, she first caught a glimpse of it ; 
but this trsnsport soon gave way to regret and 
melancholy, when she reflected its beloved mistress 
was far distant, and that she herself had no longer 
a right to consider it as her home. Yet still she 
felt such a confidence of protection and security 
within its walls, that the nearer she approached it, 
the more tranquil she became. The beautiful 
serenity of the evening, the calmness, the verdure, 
the cheerfulness of the surrounding scenery, also 
contributed to impart a soothing charm to her 
mind. Spring appeared literally to have descend- 



NOCTURNAL VISIT. 73 

ed upon the delicious plains she viewed, in a 
shower of shadowing roses ; and round, " the tepid 
airs," and " fostering breezes, blew." All nature 
seemed to feel its renovating influence. The joy- 
ous husbandman, cheered by the blended voice of 
social labour, love, and happy glee, again pursued 
his task. The flocks playfully bounded over their 
flowery pastures, and 

" The thrush 
" And woodlark ran through the sweetest lengtk 
•' Of notes ;" 

whilst 

" The blackbird whistled from the thorny brake, 
" The mellow bullfinch answer'd from the grove; 
11 Nor were the linnets, o'er the flow'ring furze 
" Pour'd out profusely, silent. Join'd to these, 
" Innumerous songsters, in the fresh'ning shade 
" Of new-sprung leaves, their modulation- mix'd, 
" Mellifluous : the jay, the rook, the daw, 
" And each harsh pipe, discordant, heard alone, 
u Aided the concert ; while the stockdove breath'd 
'« A melancholy murmur thro' the whole." 

Jacintha reached the house without beholding 
any one belonging to it except the porter, who 
had opened the gates to admit the chaise into the 
avenue. All the windows in the front were shut 
up, and_ though the postillion knocked loudly and 
repeatedly, the hall-door remained unopened. 
Jacintha, on finding this, desired him to drive 
round to a back court ; but ere he could obey her 
directions, a country boy came gaping from it. 
Instead, however, of coming to Jacintha, as she 
beckoned him to do, he disappeared the moment 
he had satisfied his curiosity ; and, before the 
se had again proceeded many yards, she be- 



74 NOCTURNAL VISIT- 

held the house-keeper and several servants ap- 
proaching'- 

" Why, good gracious !" she heard the former 
exclaiming, as the driver stopped, "you don't tell 
me truth, Dick ; miss Greville come back ! Why, 
what in the name of fort in could bring her here 1 
Aye, so it is she herself, indeed." 

" I hope, Mrs. Colville," said Jacintha, with a 
good-natured smile, " though an unexpected, I 
am not an unwelcome visiter/ ■ 

" Lauk, no, to be sure, miss," replied Mrs* 
.Colville, resting her hand upon the chaise door j 
" but you are not come to make any stay ?" 

" Only for a few days," said Jacintha. " Some 
particular circumstances obliged me to leave Mr. 
Falkland's, and I wish to remain here until I can 
procure a proper residence elsewhere." 

" Dear me, that is very iHconvenient, for all the 
best bed-chambers are unsettled, and the furniture 
covered up, and none of the things are in their 
proper places at present. Don't you know any 
place, miss, where you could be more comfortably 
accommodated ?" 

Jacintha attempted to reply ; but the humiliat- 
ing idea of being compelled to solicit admission 
from a reluctant domestic, into a house which, 
but a short time before, she had been taught to 
consider as her home, excited such emotions as 
impeded her utterance, and filled her eyes with 
tears. Though she hastily averted her head to 
conceal those tears, they were not unperceived by 
Mrs. Colville, who, fearing she had given her of- 
fence, which, for many reasons, she was unwill- 
ing to do, began to apologize for what she had 
said, assuring her she would do every thin^ in 
ner power to render her comfortable. 



NOCTURNAL VISIT. 75 

Her reluctance, indeed, to receiving Jacinth a 
into the house, proceeded not from ill-nature, or 
any dislike to her, but an apprehension that her 
presence might be an interruption to the pleasure 
and amusement she had proposed to herself from 
the company of some friends, whom she had in-. 
vited from London, and expected in the course of 
a day or two. 

The chaise now drove into the court, and Ja- 
cinth a was conducted from it into the breakfast- 
parlour, where, it may be remembered, she had 
first learned the name of her mother. The recol- 
lections which this room revived, at once painful 
and pleasing, were too much for her already 
agitated spirits. The tears she had hitherto 
with difficulty suppressed, now burst forth, and she 
sunk, trembling and exhausted, upon a chair. 
Mrs. Colville, who still believed these tears flowed 
more from wounded pride than any other feeling, 
now became officiously kind, in order to make 
atonement for the offence she feared she had 
given. A table was immediately spread with re- 
freshments, and every thing done which she 
thought could contribute to Jacintha's ease, or the 
restoration of her tranquillity. As soon as Jacin- 
tha was sufficiently composed to enter into con- 
versation, she informed Mrs. Colviile of her anx- 
ious solicitude for a residence beneath some re- 
spectable roof, and begged to know whether she 
could put her in a way of accomplishing her 
wishes. 

Mrs. Colville, after some consideration, said 
she did know a clergyman's 'family near Lon- 
don, in which she was sure she could be accom- 
modated, and equally certain she would be happy. 
She then entered into particulars, which tended so 



NOCTURNAL VISIT. 

much to confirm this latter assertion, that Jacintha 
requested she would write the next day, to pro- 
pose her admission into it, impatient to quit a 
mansion where she could not avoid thinking her- 
self an intruder. 

She would gladly have dispensed with Mrs. 
Celville's company the remainder of the evening ; 
her loquacity and inquisitive disposition being ex- 
tremely fatiguing to her, particularly in the pre- 
.. Mrs. Colville, however, 
detested soilt . If, naturally concluded 

every one else had an equal aversion to it, and 
therefore persisted in sitting with her, from an 
idea of obliging her by doing so. 

The chamber Which Jacintha had formerly oc- 
cupied, was again prepared for her ; and with a 
sigh; caused by the contrast she drew between her 
feelings now, and when she had first become its 
inhabitant, again took possession of it. 

rre, for the purpose of enjoying that uninter- 
rupted quiet which suited "her present feelings, 
sat almost entirely the ensuing day. As she 
was reading in the evening, a maid abruptly en- 
tered, and informed her there was a gentleman 
below, who wished to speak to her. The idea of 
Falkland immediately occurred, and Jacintha in- 
quired whether he had not mentioned his n: 
The maid replied in the negative* 

" What kind of person is he ?" as", 

" Why, very handsome, indeed, miss," 
girl. 

Jacintha was now convinced it was Falkland. 
iHer bosom swelled with resentment, her cheeks 
glowed with indignation ; and she desired the 
tleman to be informed she was so particular] 
gaged at present, it was not in I 



NOCTURNAL VISIT. 77 

receive any visiter. With this message the maid 
withdrew ; but returned in a few minutes with a 
note, which Jacintha refused taking. 

" I can't indeed, miss," said the girl, laying it 
upon a table, " take it back to the gentleman. He 
seemed quite vexed and angry when I told him 
you would not see him, and said he was sure, on 
reading this, you would not any longer refuse 
coming to him." 

At these words, Jacintha cast her eyes upon the 
note, and, to her extreme surprise, beheld it 
directed in the writing of lord Gwytherin. She 
directly snatched it up, and found it contained the 
following lines 

" I flatter myself it was your ignorance of your 
visiter's name, which made you decline receiving 
him ; hasten to me, dear Jacintha, on perusing 
this, for I have much to impart*" 

Jacintha immediately descended (though not 
without some little degree of agitation) to the 
breakfast-parlour, where she understood he waited 
for her, and was received by him in a very afVec? 
ate manner. 
He led her to a chair, and having seated him- 
self beside her, proceeded to speak of the disap- 
pointment he had experienced on not finding her 
at Mr. Falkland's. 

"What," said Jacintha, " were you at Mr. 

md's to see me ?" 
" Yes, or I should not have known you were 
here ; for you gave me no intimation of leaving 
his house in your letter to me." 

" I had no -idea of quitting it when I wrote that 
r," replied Jacintha. 
G 2 



7& NOCTURNAL VISIT. 

" Well," said lord Gwytherin, without troubling 
himself to inquire what were her reasons for do- 
ing so, " I am come to ask you whether you chuse 
to pay a visit to your mother ?" 

"Oh heaven!" exclaimed Jacintha, starting 
from her chair, and with a look of wild surprise, 
" is my mother come to England r" 

" Be composed, my dear girl," said lord Gwy- 
therin, again seating her ; " your mother is not 
come to England ; but her still continuing in 
France does not render it impossible for you to 
see her. The earl of Dunsane is dead, and no 
danger can now attend your introduction to her." 

"But how, my lord," eagerly demanded Jacin- 
tha, laying her trembling hand upon his arm, 
" could I possibly go to France, without exciting 
suspicions either injurious to myself or to my mo- 
ther, perhaps leading to the discovery of those 
circumstances, which I cannot doubt her ever 
wishing to conceal?" 

" Certainly," replied lord Gwytherin, " as her 
daughter, she never can publicly acknowledge 
you ; but privately, I am certain, she will take 
you to her heart with all the fond affection of a 
mother." 

u But what motive can I assign for going to 
France ?" impatiently demanded Jacintha. 

" You must not let it be known that you are 
going thither." 

" How will it be possible to avoid doing so ?" 
cried Jacintha. 

" Are you not your own mistress at present I" 
asked his lordship. 

" I am," replied Jacintha, with a sigh. 

4< And therefore at liberty to go where you 

ease?" 



NOCTURNAL VISIT- 79 

" Undoubtedly ; but it will appear strange if I 
make a mystery of my residence." 

" There is no necessity for your doing so ; 
you can say you are going to some remote part 
of England." 

" But should an inquiry pursue me thither?" 
said Jacintha. 

" Follow my directions,'* resumed his lordship, 
" and depend upon it there will be no danger 
of any discovery taking place that you wish to 
avoid. I know an old and resepectable lady in 
Lancashire, who 1 am certain, at my request, 
will permit your letters to be directed to her house, 
from whence they can easily be forwarded to you ; 
and with her, you can inform your friends, you are 
going to reside, until the return of Mr. and Mrs. 
Decourcy, or Mr. Oswald." 

" But the voyage.... the journey ?" said Jacin- 
tha. 

" I shall take care that both are conducted in 
such a manner, as to prevent your leaving the 
kingdom being even suspected ; in short, if your 
wishes are really sincere for seeing your mother, 
there is nothing to deter you from gratifying 
them." 

" Sincere 1" repeated Jacintha. " Oh, my lord! 
one of the most ardent wishes of my heart is to 
know and be acknowledged by her !" 

" You consent, then, to accompany me to 
France ?" 

" Yes, since you have convinced me there is 
little danger of my doing so, being discovered." 

Lord Gwytherin kissed her hand with trans- 
port. " Propitious be the voyage for both i" said 
u may it give to you a mother whom you can 



80 NOCTURNAL VISIT. 

love ! to me V He paused, as if overcome by 

his emotions. 

Jacinth a started, and looked earnestly at him. 
" Do I understand you right V' cried she. 

" My most ardent wishes are indeed for an 
union with your mother," he replied, " and thus 
to be permitted to have an opportunity of endea- 
vouring to make atonement for my former conduct. 
Neither time nor levity- ever triumphed com- 
pletely over the passion she inspired in my heart; 
and but for the continuance of that passion, which 
prevented my thinking- of any other object, I 
should long since have exchanged the dissipated, 
unsettled, and desultory life I led, for that do- 
mestic state, in which real happiness can alone be 
found. But in the way of my wishes, I am well 
aware there are many obstacles ; through your 
means, however, I trust they may be overcome." 

" My means!" repeated Jacintha, with sur- 
prise. 

" Yes, the interest I cannot doul ;x cit- 

ing in her heart, together with the eloquence I 
flatter myself you will exert for me, will, I think, 
by degrees, subdue her hitherto undiminished 
resentment, and incline her to accept my vows." 

" Most happy shall I consider myself," said 
Jacintha, " if it be in my power to bring about 
any event which can conduce to the happiness of 
such near connections. But tell me, my lord, 
How, when did you hear of the earl's death ?" 

He had received intelligence of it the preceding 
week, lord Gwytherin replied, from a very particu- 
lar friend, an English gentleman, who resided in 
the neighbourhood of the earl's chateau, in Ro, 
and knew of his attachment for the countess. 

" Knew of it !" repeated Jacintha. " Surely......" 



NOCTURNAL VISIT. 8 1 

" I guess the question you are about asking," 
interrupted lord Gwytherin. " No, my dear 
Jacintha, he knew but of my attachment for your 
mother ; her fame I have ever guarded more care- 
fully than my life, and ever will endeavour to 
maintain, even at the hazard of it." 

The whole plan of their journey and voyage was 
now arranged. It was settledthat Jacintha should 
depart for London the next c*ay, and be set down 
at lodgings lord Gwytherin promised to provide ; 
whence, in the course of a few days, she was to set 
out for Dover with him. 

Previous to her quitting London, she proposed 
making an excursion to Mortlake, for, the purpose 
of inquiring whether any recent intelligence had 
been received of Egbert, and depositing a letter 
in Woodville's hands for him, containing a brief 
account of the late unexpected discovery, and the 
events which, in consequence of it, had taken place 

particulars which she feared to transmit by a, 

common conveyance, lest any accident should befal 
the letter. 

For her intended communication to Egbert, she 
had the free permission of lord Gwy therm and 
Mrs. Decourcy. The former granted his, from 
an idea of the advantages which might hereafter 
result to himself from his relationship to her being 
known ; and the latter, because she thought, or 
rather knew from experience, that happiness can 
never be enjoyed in the married state, without re- 
ciprocal confidence and esteem. 

Jacintha deemed it absolutely necessary to in- 
form Egbert of her departure from the kingdom, 
:e should return to it before she did.. ..a cir- 
cumstance she did not altogether think improba- 
f received by her mother in the manner 



82 NOCTURNAL VISIT. 

she wished, she felt she should be unwilling to 
forego her protection for any other than his. That 
this would be the caso* shVoould scarcely doubt ; 
for to the peculiar delicacy of her situation, and 
not to any want of natural affection, she imputed 
the apparent neglect and^ inattention of the coun- 
tess. 

The sweetest s^nsfttionjjiook possession of her 
mind, at the idea^jrbeiJPreceived by her with 
tenderness. Herjglowi^g fancy anticipated the 
raptures which jvould attend the moment she 
should first find lleiifcelf within her arms.. .first hear 
the soft, the softhlng^ voice of a mother, sinking 
like balm upon her he£.rt, after being so long exiled 
from the sweets o&sympathy and mutual confidence. 
How delightful to#th ink she. should soon acquire a 
friend, of whose sympathy she was certain, and in 
whose gentle bosom she could confide every sor- 
row.. ..every thought ! To obtain such a friend, 
she scarcely thought any difficulty or danger too 
great to undergo ; for to a heart like her's, formed 
to feel the social charities of life in their fullest ex- 
tent, there could be no happiness in this life, 
without a consciousness of loving, and being be- 
loved. 

Fo^ this unknown parent her filial reverence 
and affection were alone excited. No effort could 
overcome the impression of horror which lord 
Gwytherin had made upon her mind. An union 
with her mother, she thought, might, in some de- 
gree, have a tendency to conquer it ; but that such 
an union would ever take place she, could not help 
doubting, since not only the deep^ resentment 
which, by his own confession, the countess felt 
against him, but the strong attachment Jacintha 
understood she entertained for her departed lord* 



NOCTURNAL VISIT. 



S3 



were likely, she thought, to place insuperable bars 
in the way of his wishes. Her doubts, however, 
she kept to In i If "iin>mrf n thing being finally- 
adjusted on botjafsides, loccite^wytherin took his 
leave, and set out for London^ \ 




84 NOCTURNAL VISIT. 



CHAP. V. 



" Dissimulation 
" ScreenM her dark thoughts, and set to public view 
" A specious face of innocence and beauty." 



As soon ^s his lordship had withdrawn, 
Jacintha sent fol^ Mrs. Coiville, and apologized 
for the unnecessary trouble she had given her, in 
causing her to write to her friend, as it was now 
out of her power, she said, to go to his house. 

" Dear me, miss," cried Mrs. Coiville, with an 
offended air, " I wish you had known your own 
mind before you desired me to write ; people 
don't like to be trifled with." 

Jacintha repeated her apology, assuring her she 
was serious in her intentions of going to his house 
at the time she desired her to write, or she never 
would have commissioned her to do so. 

" I suppose, then, you have heard of some other 
residence, miss," said Mrs. Coiville. 

Jacintha replied in the affirmative. 

" From the gentleman, 1 suppose, who was with 
you this evening," resumed Mrs. Coiville. 

Jacintha bowed. 

" He is a relation, I presume, miss," said Mrs. 
Coiville,^ with a scrutinizing look, which called 
a blush into the face of Jacintha.. ..." I 



NOCTURNAL VISIT. 3 5 

k whither you are going?'' continued she, after 
some minutes, evidently for a reply from 
Jacintha, which she seemed much disappointed at 
not receiving. 

" Here is my address," cried Jacintha, taking 
a card from her pocket-book, and writing upon it 
the direction lord Gwytherin had given her. 

" To Lancashire!" said Mrs. Colville, in an 
accent expressive of surprise. " Why you have a 
long journey to take. Pray, how soon do you set 
out, miss I" 

" To-morrow," replied Jacintha, " I depart for 
London." 

" London!" repeated Mrs. Colville; "why, bless 
my heart, miss, that is getting further, instead of 
nearer, to the place to which I understood you 
were going." 

" Oh!" cried Jacintha, recollecting herself, 
.fn extremely confused, " I want to get some 
;s in London before I commence my journey." 

She then requested Mrs. Colville would be so 
obliging as to order one of the men servants to 
engage a chaise for her against an early hour the 
next morning ; a request which Mrs. Colville very 
readily promised to comply with, losing in her joy 
(at getting rid of Jacintha before her own friends 
arrived) the displeasure she had but a minute be- 
fore felt against her. 

Jacintha now repaired to her chamber, where 
she passed the principal part of the night in writing 
to Egbert. She endeavoured, as much as possi- 
ble, to extenuate the errors of her parents, parti- 
cularly those of her mother; and to this she was 
prompted by justice as well as tenderness, since 
knew them to have been occasioned not by 
levity of disposition, but the most insidious arti- 

H 



S6 NOCTURNAL VISIT. 

ikes. She fully represented the necessity there 
was for inviolable secrecy respecting her commu- 
nications, and entreated him to endeavour to en- 
courage favourable sentiments for those who were 
so nearly connected to her. 

At an early hour, the next morning, she quitted 
Beech Grove, and reached London about two o'clock 
in the afternoon. She was set down, by lord Gwy- 
therin's direction, at a hotel near Piccadilly, where 
his valet waited to conduct her to lodgings in Do- 
ver-street. Here she remained by herself the re- 
mainder of the day, as it had been previously 
settled that lord Gwytherin should not make his 
appearance, lest his doing so should excite any 
suspicion, or lead to any unpleaseait discovery. 

The hours were prevented from appearing tedi- 
ous by books, which the servant of the house pro- 
cured her from a circulating library. Immedi- 
ately after breakfast, the ensuing morning, she sent 
for a carriage, and proceeded to Mortlake. She 
found both Mrs. Derwent and miss Woodville at 
home, and alone. They received her with sur- 
prise, but without the smallest appearance of plea- 
sure. On the contrary, their manner was so cold, 
so formal, so reserved, that Jacintha, confounded 
by a reception so little expected (for they had for- 
merly professed, and appeared to feel a friendship 
for her), was unable, for many minutes, to look 
up, or answer the kind of supercilious inquiries 
which Mrs. Derwent made, respecting her pre- 
sent situation ; at length she informed her she had 
left the house of Mr." Falkland. 

" Really 1 Why I thought," said Mrs. Derwent, 
" since your very tender anxiety about Mr. Oswald 
would not permit you to accompany Mr. and IN 



NOCTURNAL VISIT. 87 

Decourcy abroad, that you were to have continued 
there until his return, which they imagined would 
take place before theirs." 

" I thought so too, madam," replied Jacintha ; 
" but some very particular reasons have obliged 
me to leave it." 

" Oh, no doubt ! You have always very particu- 
lar reasons for your actions. " 

" Such reasons, madam," said Jacintha, indig- 

y, her pride being awakened by the sarcastic 

tone in which these words were uttered, " as will 

ever, I trust, justify those actions to my own heart, 

and to the world." 

" I hope you may not find yourself mistaken in 
the latter instance," cried Mrs. Derwent. 

Jacintha, without seeming to hear her, turned 
to miss Woodville, and begged to know whether 
she could see Mr. Woodville. 

" My brother returned to Wyefield some weeks 
ago," replied miss Woodville, raising her eyes 
from the frame at which she was seated. 

" How unfortunate i" sighed Jacintha to herself, 
disappointed beyond expression at not having been 
yet able to obtain an opportunity of removing from 
Woodvilie's mind, the unpleasant suspicions he 
had formed respecting her conduct. " But per- 
haps," thought she, " he may have seen Mrs. De- 
courcy prior to her departure, and received from 
her that explanation I wish to give him." 

On inquiring of miss Woodville, however, she 
found, to her extreme mortification, that no inter- 
view had taken place between him and Mr. and 
Mrs. Decourcy since his last visit to their house, 
tort time before she had quitted it. Unable to 
are, any longer, the idea of laying under his 



NOCTURNAL VISIT. 

censure, she resolved on writing an explanatory 
letter to him, ere she quitted the kingdom. 

Impatient to put this resolution into practice, 
and conclude a visit she found so extremely 
agreeable as the present, she no longer delayed 
►dville, whether her brother had 
ligence of his friend ere he re- 
turned to Wyefield- 

iss Woodvilie assured her he had not ; and 
Jacintha now entreated permission to leave in her 
ds the letter she had written to Egbert, as; 

reason for this request, the very great 

ty there was of their not meeting for some 

after his return to the kingdom, as she was 

removing to a considerable distance from the ca- 

[, which : sit as soon as 

he came back, and where, perhaps, he would be 

detained for a long period. 

Miss Woodvilie readily took charge of her let- 
ter ; and, losing a great deal of her coldness, de- 
sired to know whither she was going. Jacintha, 
without speaking, though not without confusion, 
presented her with a card, similar to the one she 
had given Mrs. Colville. 

i You will not be remote from your old neigh- 
bourhood," said miss Woodvilie, as she exa- 
mined it. 
Jacinth: 
abruptly to day 

" You seem uneasy, miss Greville," said miss 

>dviile, interrupting her as she was bidding 

her farewei, " at not seqing my brother. Would 

you wish to leave a message or letter for him 

you do, I promise to transmit either faithfully.' ' 

Jacintha thanked her, and said she mean 
write. 



NOCTURNAL VISIT. 89 

" Then you can do so here," resumed miss 
Woodvilk>, " and I will inclose the letter in one 
I am about writing." 

Jacintha accepted the proposal, and was con- 
ducted into an adjoining room, where she soon 
wrote a short and explanatory letter, containing 
a solemn injunction of secrecy relative to its con- 
tents. She then took a cool leave of Mrs. Derwent, 
and not a much warmer one of miss WoodviJie, 
and departed. 

All the way home she ruminated on their con- 
duct, for which she was at a loss to account. Once 
indeed it occurred to her, that Woodville might 
have infused his own doubts respecting the pro- 
priety of her actions, into their minds. But she 
soon dismissed this idea, as one highly injurious 
to his candour and generosity, which, upon re- 
flection, she was convinced would not permit him 
to injure her in the opinion of others, particular- 
ly whilst her own vindication remained unheard. 

In the evening she paid a visit to Mr. Decour- 
cy's agent in the city, for the purpose of inquiring 
whether any intelligence had been received of 
him and Mrs. Decourcy since their departure.... 
an inquiry she could not bring herself to make at 
Mrs. Derwent's, as she did not like to acknow- 
ledge that no correspondence had been establish- 
ed between her and her friend (which, for obvious 
reasons, the latter had not proposed). 

The agent gave her the pleasing information of 
their safe arrival in Lisbon, where he understood 
they purposed making a long stay. 

" Sooner than they expect may they return I" 

fervently, though secretly prayed Jacintha, who 

v it was not their intention to do so, till her 

union with Egbert had taken place, in order to 

h2. 



so NOCTURNAL VISIT. 

prevent unpleasant conjectures being formed re- 
specting their not again receiving her into their 
house, which such an event would render unne- 
cessary. 

The ensuing evening a note arrived from lord 
Gwytherin, to inform her he had fixed upon the 
next morning for the commencement of their 
journey, and that at an early hour a carriage 
would be with her. Jacintha was accordingly 
prepared to enter it the moment it came to the 
door. Lord Gwytherin, apprehensive of being 
seen, did not call upon her, and was taken up at 
his own house in Piccadilly. 

They travelled with privacy and expedition ; 
and about the decline of day reached Dover. In- 
stead of stopping at an inn, they immediately 
went on board a small vessel, engaged by lord 
Gwytherin's valet, who had preceded them, and 
which lord Gwytherin preferred to the packet, on 
account of the secrecy necessary to be observed, 
relative to his companion. The wind was tole- 
rably fair, and about an hour after they had en- 
tered it, the ship was under weigh. 

At this moment the spirits of Jacintha sunk. 
The consequences which might ensue from the 
step she had taken, rushed like a torrent upon her 
mind, bearing down all her hopes and expecta- 
tions. She wished she had given herself a little 
more time to consider what she was about, but it 
was now too late to recede or repent; and hum- 
bly recommending herself to the protection of 
Providence, she sat upon the deck, with her eyes 
fixed in melancholy meditation upon the white 
cliffs from which she was gradually receding, till 
sickness overpowered her, and compelled her to 
retire to the cabin. 



NOCTURNAL VISIT. 91 

At an early hour the next morning they reach- 
ed Calais. Jacintha had by this time reasoned 
herself into some decree of composure ; and she 
felt still more calm and cheerful when she had 
landed. 

In consequence of the extreme sickness she had 
experienced, they rested that day and the follow- 
ing night at Calais. About the decline of evening, 
Jacintha prevailed upon his lordship to take her 
upon a ramble, to see whatever was worthy of 
observation, or, from ancient story, interesting in 
and about the town. 

The next morning by sunrise, they commenced 
their journey to Roussillon. It was lord Gwy- 
therin's intention to take up his abode (an inten- 
tention he had previously announced to him) at 
the house of his friend Mr. Villers, who resided 
at a little distance from Perpignan, and near the 
chateau, as he had already mentioned, of lady 
Dunsane. To this gentleman, he told Jacintha, he 
meant to introduce her as his niece, travelling 
under his care for improvement. Jacintha did not 
approve of any thing like deception, but in the 
present case it was not to be avoided. 

Her ardent curiosity, so natural to a young and 
enthusiastic mind like hers, made her often wish 
for pauses in her journey. Lord Gwytherin made 
his anxious impatience to behold the countess, a 
pretext for not gratifying this wish. He had in 
reality so often gone over the same ground before, 
that he was completely tired of it; and it was 
a rule with him, never to sacrifice his own incli- 
nation to that of any other person, except certain 
that some particular advantage would result from 
doing so. 



92 NOCTURNAL VISIT. 

He contrived, however, to conceal this selfish- 
ness (few indeed were ever more skilled in con- 
cealing their defects), and to render himself a very- 
entertaining companion. He related a number 
of pleasant anecdotes, and described several agree- 
able scenes, in which he said he had himself been 
an actor, and which he rendered more amusing 
and interesting, by pointing out, or pretending to 
point out, the identical spots where they had hap- 
pened : thus, like the poet, giving to 

" Airy nothings 
" A local habitation, and a name." 

After a journey of some days, the travellers ar- 
rived at Mr. Villers's, who received his expected 
visiters with the utmost politeness and hospitality. 
He seemed about lord Gwytherin's age, was equal- 
ly elegant in his manner, and scarcely less pre- 
possessing in his appearance. Jacintha was not 
mistaken in imagining he had been a votary of 
pleasure, if dissipation can be styled so ! but ill 
health had for some years -bliged him to change 
his mode of life, and induced him to reside in 
France. 

His retreat, for such it might be called, having 
withdrawn to it from^the follies and extravagances 
of life, lay 

" Between the groaning forest and the shore, 
" A rural, shelter'd, solitary scene." 

The house spacious, though built in the cottage 
stile, was fitted up with the most exquisite neat- 
ness and elegance ; and the grounds immediately 
belonging to it were laid out with a simplicity, 
which formed a beautiful and striking contrast to 
the grandeur and sublimity of the surrounding 



NOCTURNAL VISIT. 93 

jy. It stood upon a verdant lawn, fenced 
from the road by thickets, 

" overgrown, grotesque, and wild; 

" And over head up-grew, 
" Insuperable height, of loftiest shade, 
" Cedar, and pine, and fir, and branching palm." 

On either side umbrageous groves extended. 
One opening to a distant view of the Mediterra- 
nean, and its romantic shores, the other to the 
wild magnificence of the far-stretching Pyrenees, 
those stupendous, those glorious monuments of 
the power of the great Creator, exhibiting at 
once such a variety of sylvan beauties, and such 
dreary desolation ; now veiling their aspiring heads 
amidst the clouds, now bursting in almost terrific 
majesty from the thin vapour, inspiring awe, asto- 
nishment, and admiration. 

The lawn, in front of the house, descended, 
almost imperceptibly, to a broad stream, whose 
banks were fringed with weeping willows, myr- 
tles, and other odorous shrubs. A marble bridge, 
of singular beauty and workmanship, crossed it, 
and led into the deep retirement of hanging woods 
that rose boldly precipitate above the water. The 
slender spires of an ancient convent immediately 
surmounted the v/ood, and an embattled tower, 
rendered venerable by the decaying hand of time, 
which appeared a little further on, gave to the 
Avhole a romantic solemnity, highly impressive 
and interesting. 

The travellers reached Mr. Villers's early in 
the afternoon, just as the evening sun was begin- 
ning to diffuse a yellow radiance over the w r cods, 
which were scarcely heard to rustle. The scene, 
indeed, seemed as tranquil as it was beautiful. 
The cattle that found pasture upon the greeu 



94 NOCTURNAL VISIT. 

slopes which shelved to the woods, lay ruminat- 
ing beneath its crowded willows, and a faint war- 
ble was alone heard through the groves. 

To describe the admiration with which Jacin- 
tha viewed this enchanting prospect, would be 
utterly impossible. She stood for many minutes 
absolutely lost in wonder and delight ; but the 
embattled tower soon became the most interest- 
ing feature in the landscape, from being pointed 
out to her by lord Gwytherin, as forming part of 
her mother's residence. 

The next day was destined for her to visit this 
mother, whom her heart at once trembled and 
sighed to behold. She was to take an introduc- 
tory letter from lord Gwytherin, and merely an- 
nounce herself as an English lady, entrusted with 
a commission from England to the countess. She 
wished this first interview over, almost as much 
from apprehension as tenderness ; and the nearer 
the time for its taking place approached, the more 
agitated she became. 



NOCTURNAL VISIT. 95 



CHAP. VI. 



" My mother, 
1 Let me not live ! but at thy very name 
1 My eager heart springs up, and leaps with joy.' 



THE taste conspicuous in the interior of 
Mr. Villers's house, charmed Jacintha almost as 
much as that displayed in the disposition of his 
grounds. She was particularly pleased with the 
apartment in which they dined. It was built in 
the form of a pavilion, hung with a light drapery 
of green silk, and opened entirely in front into 
the garden, 'which might literally indeed be styled 
a wilderness of sweets. Here, while the eyes 
wandered over a richly diversified prospect, while 
the ear was delighted with the humming of the 
bees, and the gurgling sound of a water-fall at 
its extremity, the smell was regaled with the 
delicious fragrance of orange trees, roses, and 
levender. 

" Ah, Egbert," thought Jacintha, " with even 
a bare competence, in such a retreat as this, in 
our native country, how happy should we consider 
ourselves ! Ah, if heaven is so much our friend 
as ever to grant us any thing like it, surely we 
should never complain of our destiny !" 



96 NOCTURNAL VISIT. 

The heart of Jacintha prompted many inquiries 
to Mr. Villers, who, she understood, sometimes 
visited at the chateau, relative to her mother, 
which prudence, however prevented ; and the 
same motive, she supposed, restrained lord Gwy- 
therin's. 

Questions, however, were unnecessary ; for Mr. 
Villers, of his own accord, began to speak of lady 
Dunsane after dinner. 

" You have not yet asked me any thing about 
my fair neighbour, my lord," said he, smiling at 
lord Gwytherin. " I hope the smothered flame 
is not extinguished, at the very moment it might 
blaze forth without danger." 

" By no means," replied his lordship ; " but you 
have hitherto rallied me so much whenever I 
spoke of her, that I have now forborne to do so 
on that account." 

" But times are changed," cried Mr.* Villers. 

" True," said his lordship. " Do you think 
there is any probability of her making use of her 
restored liberty in the manner I wish ?" 

" I cannot possibly determine," answered Mr. 
Villers. " I saw her but once since the death of 
the earl, and she then appeared in deep affliction. 
'Tis a point, however, which I think you cannot 
yourself endeavour to ascertain too soon ; for, I 
assure you, you will have many rivals. Lord 
Dunsane, as I mentioned to you in my letter, has 
left a considerable part of his fortune in her pow- 
er; and her wealth, exclusive of her personal 
attractions, renders her a prize well worth con- 
tending for. I would not wish to alarm you ; 
but " 

" What ?" eagerly demanded his lordship. 

" 'Tis said that the count de Montalde, ap- 
pointed by the earl joint guardian with her to the 



NOCTURNAL VISIT. 97 

young ladies, is already a candidate for her hand, 
which he is instigated to seek as much from inter- 
est as love, hoping, if he can accomplish an union 
with her, to bring about a marriage between his 
two sons and her daughters ; and thus secure the 
whole of the late earl's extensive possessions in 
his family." 

" You did not mention this report," cried lord 
Gwytherin, with an agitated and displeased coun- 
tenance, " when you wrote." 

" No, because it did not then prevail." 

" And do you give any credit to it ?" asked his 
lordship. 

" I really do not know the lady's inclination," 
replied Mr. Villers, with rather a sarcastic look ; 
" but I know she has reasons for wishing to keep 
fair with the marquis." 

Jacintha started at these words, and involuntarily 
repeated them. 

" What are they ?" demanded his lordship in 
an impetuous voice. 

u They were told in confidence, and therefore 
cannot be divulged. But do not despair ; suppose 
you make your first essay to-morrow, and wait 
upon her ladyship." 

" No," replied lord Gwytherin ; " I have not 
courage to do so, until I know what reception my 
niece will meet with." 

" What, does miss Gwytherin" (for by this name 
Jacintha had been introduced to him) " propose 
visiting the countess ?" 

" Yes, to-morrow." 

" She is known to her then?" said Mr. Villers. 

" No ; but she has procured an introductory 
letter to her." 



98 NOCTURNAL VISIT. 

Mr. Villers politely offered to attend Jacintha 
in her intended visit, which offer, as may be sup- 
posed, was declined. 

It was evident to Jacintha, that lord Gwytherin 
wished for a private conversation with his friend ; 
she therefore strolled away, soon after dinner, into 
the garden, whence she went upon the lawn, and 
crossing the bridge, pursued her walk along the 
margin of the stream. 

The last gleams of sunshine were now fading 
from the rocks and mountain-tops, and soon the 
distant prospect became " one swimming scene, 
uncertain if beheld." The gloom of evening was 
rendered more solemn by the stillness which ac- 
companied it. No other sounds were heard but 
the hollow whispering breeze that shook the woods, 
the droning hum of the beetle that fluttered 
through them, and the thrilling song of the night- 
ingale. 

The tranquillity of the scene gradually diffused 
a corresponding tranquillity through the mind of 
Jacintha ; and as her agitation decreased, her hopes 
revived. Again she indulged the pleasures of 
imagination, and anticipated the expected happi- 
ness of the next day. 

Her thoughts were now too agreeably employed 
to wish to have them interrupted ; and she wan- 
dered on until stopped by a small grotesque build- 
ing, which hung immediately over the stream, 
that here, impeded in its course by some moss- 
covered rocks, foamed over them with impetuous 
fury, as if impatient to regain the tranquil mazes 
of the quiet vale. 

Curiosity excited in Jacintha a wish to examine 
the interior of this building. She accordingly 
tried the door, which readily y« elded to her hand, 



NOCTURNAL VISIT. 99 

and she found herself within a handsome octagon 
room, fitted up, as well as the imperfect light 
would permit her to discern, in a neat and sim- 
ple style, and furnished with a variety of musical 
instruments, which evidently proved its being de- 
signed for the reception of company. Amongst 
those instruments Jacintha perceived a harp, 
which, in her native village, under the instruc- 
tions of Egbert, she had been taught to touch 
with delicacy and taste. Her hand now instinc- 
tively swept the trembling chords, and to the 
plaintive sounds they emitted, her heart vibrated 
with a mournful kind of pleasure ; for they revived 
within it a train of tender ideas, and brought to 
her remembrance the last evening she had passed 
with Egbert. All the hardships and difficulties 
he might have encountered since that period, and 
still perhaps have to encounter ere they again met, 
rushed upon her mind, and drew a flood of tears 
from her. 

By "degrees, however, her confidence in Hea- 
ven re-animated her spirits ; and in anticipating 
.the joys of meeting, she tried to soften the pain 
occasioned by separation. 

" Yes,'' she exclaimed, " I feel that the bliss- 
ful moment which restores Egbert to me, will 
amply recompense me for all my cares, my anx- 
ieties on his account !'' 

Lulled again into tranquillity, she quitted the 
building, and slowly proceeded towards the house, 
often pausing to listen, with a thrilling sensation 
of delight, to the noise of the waterfall, softened 
by distance, and the low murmur of the woods ; 
still wondering, as she went, that there could be 
beings so tasteless, so vitiated, as to prefer the 
crowded confines of a drawing-room, to the plea- 



ko NOCTURNAL VISIT. 

sures which attend the twilight walk, when 111 is 
calculated to sooth the soul, refine the thoughts, 
and elevate them to heaven. 

The moon began to unveil her peerless light 
ere Jacinth a reached the house, where she found 
the gentlemen seated in the vestibule, enjoying 
the cool breeze that then prevailed, impregnated 
witH the rich perfume of those flowers and plants 
which own 

14 The stronger impulse of the evening air." 

Here they supped without any other light than 
that afforded by the beautiful luminary of the night. 
The scene reminded Jacintha of a Roman meal in 
the days of its simplicity : 

1 * Such as the mistress of the world once found 
" Delicious, when her patriots of high note, 
•• Perhaps by moon-light, at their humble doors, 
M Apd under an old oak's domestic shade, 
tl Enjoy 'd, spare feast, a radish or an eg^." 

She retired early to her chamber, which was ele- 
gantly, though simply furnished ; but it was long 
ere she could withdraw from the window, which 
presented to her view all the enchantments of light 
and shade. 

Her mind was too much occupied to permit her 
to enjoy uninterrupted repose; and at an early 
hour, just as the matin bell from the neighbouring 
convent began to ring, she forsook her pillow ; 
and having*, with more than usual pains, dressed 
herself, descended to the lawn, to inhale the dewy 
fragrance of the morning. With increasing awe 
and admiration, she viewed the magnificent and 
beautiful scenery which every where met her eye ; 
and from Nature's works, her thoughts gradually 
ascended to Nature's God. 



NOCTURNAL VISIT. 101 

Delighted, not only with the prospects, but the 
rural sounds that now prevailed, she continued to 
wander about till joined by lord Gwytherin, who, 
after giving her some general instructions relative 
to the approaching interview, and the letter she 
was to present to the countess, led her in to break- 
fast. 

Immediately after it was over, Mr. Villers's 
chaise drove to the door for her. At this moment 
her spirits again began to fail her, and she wished 
for the company of some supporting friend. Lord 
Gwytherin perceived her agitation, and hurried 
her to the carriage, fearful, if he allowed her time 
for deliberation, her resolution would utterly for- 
sake her. 

Jacintha now endeavoured to reason herself into 
composure ; but her efforts to do so were vain, and 
she arrived at the chateau in an agitation which 
scarcely permitted her to speak or move. Though 
from its elevated situation,' it appeared so imme- 
diately in the vicinity of Mr. Villers's mansion, 
it was at least two miles from it ; and its gloomy 
grandeur was not calculated to reanimate the 
spirits of Jacintha. 

By the marriage of one of the earl's ancestors 
with a French heiress, it had come into his pos- 
session ; and though care was taken to preserve 
it from injury, the power of all-conquering Time 
was in many parts discernible, particularly in its 
battlements and rugged towers, upon which the 
moss of years grew green, and from whence the 
wild fox-glove and wall-flower hung in fantastic 
wreaths, intermingled with the mantling ivy, 
and, like ill-suited ornaments upon age, render- 
ed but more conspicuous its decay. Woods 
©f ancient growth surrounded the lofty eminence 
i 2 



102 NOCTURNAL VISIT. 

upon which it stood, and excluded every prospect 
but that of their own luxuriance, and the romantic 
mountains of the Pyrenees. 

After driving through two spacious courts, the 
chaise stopped before the castle, and Jacintha, 
being informed that the countess was at home, 
alighted ; and having delivered a message for her, 
though in low and faltering accents, to a servant, 
was conducted by another through a magnificent 
antichamber, into an inner apartment, like the 
preceding one 

" In pictur'd pomp array'd." 

Here Jacintha had not sat many minutes when 
she heard voices in the outer room, and approach- 
ing steps. This seemed the most awful moment 
of her life. Her heart throbbed as if it would 
burst from her bosom ; and when a servant threw 
open the door, and announced the countess, she 
could with difficulty rise from her chair. It would 
be impossible to determine whether respect, ten- 
derness, or admiration, were at this instant most 
predominant in the mind of Jacintha. The charms 
of the countess, unfaded by time, were such as she 
had never seen excelled ; nor was the elegance of 
her form less striking than the beauty of her face, 
which her mourning habit rendered more inter- 
esting, as it did the graces of her form more im- 
pressive. But even at the first glance, Jacintha 
could not avoid secretly acknowledging that, though 
more dazzling to the eye,Mrs.Decourcy was more 
pleasing to the heart. Sweetness, softness, and 
sensibility, formed the character of her counte- 
nance. ...pride, spirit, and haughtiness, that of the 
countess's; she looked, in short, as if born to 



NOCTURNAL VISIT. 103 

command the homage of mankind, and determined 
to exact it. 

The servant retired the moment she entered 
the room ; and motioning for Jacintha to resume 
her chair, she took one by her. Jacintha now at- 
tempted to speak, but in vain ; and she involunta- 
rily bent her eyes upon the ground, to avoid the 
scrutinizing looks of the countess. 

Lady Dunsane, at length, after a silent, though 
critical examination; entreated to know to what 
circumstance she was indebted for the honour of 
this visit. 

At these words, Jacintha, still unable to speak, 
drew from her bosom lordGwytherin's letter which 
she presented to her with a trembling hand, and 
which contained the following lines : 

" Though I sigh for an opportunity of pouring 
forth my repentant sorrows at your feet, and trying 
to depreciate your just resentment, I dare not at- 
tempt to enter your presence wiihout your per- 
mission. Oh, lady Dunsane! let the sincerity of 
my repentance for my offences against you, the 
fervor of my unabated passion, plead in my behalf, 
and influence you to grant me this earnestly de- 
sired permission ; but should these be insufficient 
to obtain it, oh, suffer the solicitations of a child, 
pleading the cause of an unhappy parent, to prove 
successful! Yes, lady Dunsane, this letter will be 
presented to you by your own daughter ! she to 
whom we have hitherto been compelled to deny 
that notice which her virtues merit, and her ten- 
derness claims. Take her to your bosom ; she is 
worthy being folded to it, and permit her to inter- 
cede for her repentant father. 

" GWYTHERIN." 



104 NOCTURNAL VISIT. 

Scarcely had the countess cast her eyes upon 
this letter, which she tore open with the most im- 
patient eagerness, ere her colour changed, her 
brows contracted, and her whole frame seemed 
violently agitated. Before she had well finished 
it, she crushed it in her hand, and wildly starting 
from her chair, seized the arm of Jacintha, and 
exclaimed, while her eyes lightened with fury, 
" Am I then exposed, betrayed, insulted?" 

Jacintha, shrinking from her grasp, instinctively 
dropped upon her knees, and wrapping her arms 
about her, exclaimed.... 

" Oh, my mother ! will you not then acknowledge 
me?" 

" Tell me," said the countess, disengaging her- 
self from her, " tell me," she continued, " if you 
do not wish to see me start into instant madness, 
whether your relationship to me is universally 
known ?" 

Jacintha, in faltering accents, assured her it was 
not ; and the countess, panting and trembling, 
from the violence of her emotions, dropped upon 
a chair. 

" Alas! then," said Jacintha, who still remained 
upon her knees, " you refuse to own me?" 

" Rise," cried the countess, " I scarcely know 
what I am about. Tell me," added she, after a 
momentary pause, and raising her head from the 
back of the chair, as Jacintha rose from her kneel- 
ing posture, " by what means you discovered your 
birth : for a solemn vow was plighted to me, that 
you should never knew your parents." 

Jacintha could not refrain from tears at these 
words ; and for many minutes she was unable to 
reply to the countess. She then briefly informed 



NOCTURNAL VISIT. 103 

her that it was lord Gwytherin himself who had 
disclosed it to her. - 

" And how did he learn you were in existence ?" 
asked the countess. " He knew not the persons 
in whom I reposed confidence, and consequently 
could have made no inquiry of them concerning 1 
you." 

" Mr. Greville informed him," Jacinth a replied. 

" Mr. Greville ?" repeated the countess, indig- 
nantly ; " and what motive instigated him to vio- 
late his promise of secrecy ?" 

Embarrassed by this question, Jacintha hung 
her head, utterly at a loss how to reply to it. She 
then timidly answered, she supposed Mr. Greville 
had acquainted lord Gwytherin with her relation- 
ship to him, from an idea of its being an advantage 
to her to have it known. 

The countess looked incredulous, and rising, 
seemed about quitting the room. 

ff Do you then refuse to acknowledge me ?" cried 
Jacintha, clasping her hands together. " Do you 
then cast me off for ever ? I aspire to no title which 
you do not wish me to take. I desire but that 
place in your affection, which nature has given me 
a right to claim. Oh ! disappoint not the hopes 
of my heart,'* she continued, again sinking on her 
knees before the countess ; " let me not still con- 
tinue to think myself a solitary and forlorn crea- 
ture, exiled from all the social sweets of life 

unconnected with the world ! Ah, if you knew the 

dreadful sensations such a situation inspires if 

you knew what it is to imagine no being interested 
about you, you would from pity, if from no other 
motive, regard my wishes." 

" I mean to return to you," said the countess, 
<( as soon as I recover a little composure. Wait 



106 NOCTURNAL VISIT. 

here," added she, taking the trembling hand of 
Jacintha, and raising her as she spoke, "until I 
return ; but remember," said she, in a low and 
inward kind of voice, " if you breathe a syllable of 
what you have uttered to me, you sink your mo- 
ther to perdition !" 

The look which accompanied these words, as 
well as the purport of them, made Jacintha shud- 
der ; and, in a state of agitation, which may better 
be imagined than described, she threw herself upon 
a seat, where she remained till the re- entrance 
of the countess, who continued about half an hour 
absent. 

The stormy passions of her mind seemed now 
allayed ; and though her cheek still retained the 
glow of agitation, her eyes had lost their fierceness, 
and her brows their contraction. 

" Impute not," said she, advancing to Jacintha, 
who rose at her approach, and taking her hand, 
" impute not the reception you met from me to 
unkindness, but to the real cause, surprise and ap- 
prehension. I should do myself injustice if I did 
not assure you that you have never been banished 
from my thoughts, and that it was my intention to 
go to England ]*i a very short time, for the purpose 
of inquiring into your situation, about which the 
lapse in Mrs. Decourcy's correspondence and mine, 
for a considerable period, prevented me from re* 
ceiving any intelligence. Though the unhappy 
circumstances you are so well acquainted with, 
preclude a public acknowledgment, my heart with 
readiness admits your claim to my tenderness, 
protection and support; and to fulfil to you the 
duties of a mother, will be amongst the first pica 
sures of my life." 



NOCTURNAL VISIT. 107 

Jacintha threw herself with grateful transport 
upon the bosom of her mother, which she bedewed 
with her tears. 

The countess embraced, and endeavoured to 
compose her. As soon as she had succeeded in 
some degree in tranquillizing her, she desired to 
know her present residence. Jacintha immediate- 
ly informed her, as also the character under which 
she had been introduced to Mr. Villers, and the 
reason assigned to him for her visit to the chateau. 

The countess's inquiries being thoroughly satis- 
lied, she said she would no longer detain Jacin- 
tha, but assured her she would take an early 
opportunity of seeing her again, and in the interim 
arrange seme plan for their being together. 

Jacintha kissed her hand, and rose to depart. 
At this instant she recollected lord Gwytherin, 
recollected the promise he had obtained from her, 
of pleading for him ; and ashamed and unwilling 
to break this promise, to appear as if her own in- 
terests rendered her forgetful or regardless of the 
interests of others, she asked, though in a hesitat- 
ing accent, whether there was not some message 
for.... Here she again paused ; that appellation 
which her heart had hitherto refused to give lord 
Gwytherin, she could not now bring herself to be- 
stow, and with an embarrassed air, she added 

" for lord Gwytherin." 

w Give him this note," replied the countess, put- 
ting one into Jacintha's hand. " Adieu, my 
" love ! she added ; " may you be as happy and l 
fortunate, as you are amiable and lovely." 

The interview she had dreaded being over, ac- 
knowledged by her mother, and assured of her af- 
the heart of Jacintha gradually began to 
experience something like that happiness and 



108 NOCTURNAL VISIT. 

tranquillity which so many untoward events had 
contributed to banish from it. 

Lord Gwytherin watched impatiently for her 
return. The moment the carriage stopped, he 
flew to it, and having handed her from it, led her 
to a distance from the house, where he poured 
upon be-r a torrent of inquiries. 

Jacintha, as briefly as possible, answered them. 
She suppressed all that was disagreeable in the late 
interview, and which she really imputed to the 
cause assigned by the countess, and only dwelt 
upon what was agreeable ; concluding her little 
narrative, by giving to his lordship the countess's 
note. 

"An interview !" exclaimed he, as he eagerly 
perused it. " Did she say nothing to you," turn- 
ing to Jacintha, a of having desired to see me 
this evening at the chateau ?" 

" No," replied Jacintha, much surprised at her 
silence upon this subject, " she did not." 

His lordship mused for some minutes ; and then 
putting the letter into his pocket, reconducted her 
to the house, enjoining her, as they proceeded, not 
to drop a hint to Mr. Viliers respecting his intend- 
ed visit to the countess. 

Jacintha assured him his injunctions were un- 
necessary, as her own prudence would have kept 
her silent respecting it ; but she couid not possibly 
imagine* she said, how he could go to the chateau 
without Mr. Villers's knowledge. 

" I must endeavour to do so," said his lordship. 
" Luckily two gentlemen spend the day with him, 
so that I can easily disengage myself from him." 

The day was far advanced, and dinner was served 
almost the moment he and Jacintha re-entered the 
house. Jacintha withdrew, soon after it was over, 



NOCTURNAL VISIT. 10<J 

to a dressing-room adjoining her chamber, which 
contained a good collection of books ; and with 
one of these she seated herself in a window, from 
whence she saw lord Gwytherin, in a few minutes, 
quitting the house, and hurrying towards the road. 

After remaining some time alone, Mr. Villers 
•sent to request her company to coffee ; she ac- 
cordingly descended to the parlour. As Mr. Vil- 
lers handed her to a chair, he informed her that a 
sudden indisposition had caused lord Gwytherin 
to leave the room, in order to try whether the air 
would be of any service to him. " If he prolongs 
his stay, you must not be alarmed," continued Mr. 
Villers ; " for he told me if the air was of benefit 
to him, he would in all probability ramble about 
for some time." 

In the course of the evening, Jacintha walked out 
with Mr. Villers and his guests (who were both 
officers in the French service, lively and intelli- 
gent), to some distant grounds, not less beautiful 
nor romantic than those immediately adjoining 
the house. 

As they wxre returning to it, lord Gwytherin 
joined them. After answering Mr. Villers's in- 
quiries, he contrived to detach Jacintha from the 
rest of the party, who, perceiving he wished to con- 
verse with her in private, walked on. 

" Your mother," said he, when they had got to 
a sufficient distance not tobe overheard, "is quite 
charmed with you ; and so anxious to enjoy your 
company, without restraint or interruption, that 
she proposes your going to a chateau, at some 
distance from the one where she at present resides, 
and to which she will follow you in a day or two." 

<% €an I not travel with her ?" asked Jacintha. 



1 10 NOCTURNAL VISIT. 

" No, she is fearful, if you did, that unpleasant 
inquiries or suspicions might be excited. In the 
abode to which she has invited you, you can freely 
and unreservedly converse, and arrange every 
necessary plan relative to a future correspondence 
and intercourse, as it is merely occupied by a few 
old domestics, to whom you are to be introduced 
as a young English friend of the countess, com- 
pelled by misfortunes to seek an asylum out of 
your native kingdom. She designs passing a 
month there ; and as I have acquainted her with 
your situation in every respect, she does not think 
it expedient for you to be absent longer than a 
month from England ; at the expiration of this 
period, therefore, I am to rejoin you, and recon- 
duct you back." 

" Rejoin I" repeated Jacintha ; " what, are you 
not to be of our party ?" 

"No," replied lord Gwytherin, smiling; "though 
the resentment of the countess is softened, it is 
not subdued. Time, however, will, I trust, bring 
about the accomplishment of my wishes ; one of 
the most fervent of them is, I assure you, already 
fulfilled, in having you, my dear Jacintha, taken to 
the bosom of your mother." 

" And when, my lord, is this projected journey 
to take place ?" asked Jacintha. 

The ensuing day, lord Gwytherin replied. At 
the distance of a # few miles from Mr. Villers's 
house, a confidential servant of the countess, he 
said, was to meet her in a chaise, to which he 
meant to convey her himself in his own carriage. 

" But what reason can be assigned to Mr. V li- 
ters for my sudden departure from his house :" 
demanded Jacintha. 

" Merely that hearing (at the countess's) a young 
French lady, with whom you had formed an 



NOCTURNAL VISIT. Ill 

\ 
mate acquaintance in England, was a resident in 
a neighbouring convent, you have requested me to 
lodr;e you there for sometime, on her account." 

"Should Mr. Villers be too minute in his in- 
quiries ?" said Jacintha. 

" I shall be able to answer them in such a man- 
ner as will not lead to any discovery," resumed 
lord Gwytherin. 

He now conducted her to the house, where they 
found Mr. Villers alone. Lord Gwytherin im- 
mediately spoke of Jacintha's departure. Mr. 
Villers looked surprised, but (without asking any 
of those questions which Jacintha dreaded) expres- 
sed his regret at being so soon deprived of her 
company. 

Lord Gwytherin's carriage was ordered to be 
ready at an early hour the next morning ; and as 
soon as breakfast was over, Jacintha bade Mr. 
Villers adieu, and commenced her journey, elated 
at the idea of being her mother's guest, whose 
solicitude for her company was a flattering proof 
of her regard. 

She soon perceived they were travelling towards 
the Pyrenees; and now, for the first time, inquir- 
ing the situation of the chateau to which she was 
going, learned that it lay amongst these romantic 
mountains. 



NOCTURNAL VISIT, 



CHAP. VII. 



•' Those towers, alas ! now stand forlorn, 
" With noisome weeds o'erspread, 

" Where feasted lords and courtly dames, 
" And where the poor were fed." 



LORD GWYTHERIN'S carriage stop- 
ped, in about an hour, near the entrance of a 
wood, and he and Jacintha alighting, walked on- 
wards to a turn in the road, which the branching 
trees concealed till they were immediately at it. 
Here they found the expected chaise and attendant; 
the postillion stood near the door, as if watching 
for their approach, and the moment they appear- 
ed, he hastened to open it. 

At this instant the looks of lord Gwytherin be- 
came gloomy and disordered ; he paused, sighed, 
and grasping the hands of Jacintha within his, 
seemed uncommonly agitated. 

" Jacintha," said he, in a voice which well ac- 
corded with the expression of his countenance, 
" Jrxintha, endeavour to think favourably of me. 
I am not so culpable as you may be led to imagine. 
It is not inclination, but inability, which has pre- 
vented me from being your friend." 

" Be assured, my lord," replied Jacintha, affec- 
ted by his emotion, and with a peculiar softness 
in her voice, " I will endeavour to cultivate the 
sentiments you wish me to entertain. 



NOCTURNAL VISIT. 1 1 3 

Lord Gwytherin pressed her hand affectionately 
to his bosom, and then led her to the chaise, 
into which she immediately stepped : and the 
postillion instantly mounting, drove off at full 
speed. 

Jacintha soon began to converse with her com- 
panion, an elderly woman, of no very prepos- 
sessing appearance, but not of an ungracious 
manner. 

They travelled with expedition, and ere long 
began to ascend the Pyrenees; the wonder and 
admiration with which Jacintha had viewed their 
stupendous scenery at a distance, were now 
increased by a nearer survey of it. Their bold 
outline had given her no adequate idea of their 
interior beauties and sublimity the rude mag- 
nificence of their rocks, the grandeur of their 
forests, the verdure of their winding vallies, ren- 
dered still more romantic than nature had already 
made them, by the humble but picturesque cabins 
of the herdsmen, and the clambering goats that 
scaled their steep acclivities. A kind of awful 
pleasure, too great, too exquisite to be expressed, 
took possession of her mind, and her heart paid 
involuntary homage to that Being, whose glo- 
rious works she contemplated on every side. 

About the middle of the day, the chaise stopped 
in a deep valley, and the travellers alighted, and 
seated themselves beneath the projection of a 
shrubby, rock, from whence pines and wild ash 
hung, " resounding o'er the steep." Here Jacin- 
tha and her companion dined upon the cold pro- 
visions which they brought with them, and re- 
mained till the mules, which had been unharnessed. 
,e chaise, were rested. 



114 NOCTURNAL VISIT. 

Jacintha was delighted, whilst she sat here, 
with the humming of the mountain bees, and the 
lulling sound of distant waterfalls. Nor were her 
eyes less charmed than her ears. The valley was 
adorned with the most beautiful verdure. The 
aspiring mountains, were clothed at their base, 
and in many places more than midway up their 
steep ascents, with variegated woods, o'ertopped 
by broken rocks, tinted with a rich and solemn 
colouring. Small silvery rills from their summits 
descended to the valley, where, uniting, they 
flowed through a deep and pebbly channel, which 
their continual dropping had worn in it ; forming 
a stream 'sufficiently broad and clear, to reflect 
the romantic scenery on either side. 

About the decline of day, as the chaise was 
slowly ascending a mountain, infinitely more 
dreary and rugged than any Jacintha had yet be- 
held, and united to another by a wooden bridge 
of rude workmanship, her companion informed 
her they were near the and of their journey, point- 
ing, as she spoke, to an ancient edifice which 
the brow of the opposite cliff, and was 
backed by an extensive and hanging wood of gloomy 
pines. Jacintha on finding she must cross this ter- 
riik bridge, insisted on doing so on foot. She accord- 
[y quitted the chaise, and, followed by her com- 
panion, slowly proceeded to it, shuddering at going 
over it even in this manner, from the frightful 
dangers, which its tremendous height above the 
rocky cltasm that yawned below (through which 
a mountain torrent "foamed with impetuous fury), 
presented to her view. But if her imagination 
was here impressed with terror, her mind was 
not less affected with melancholy, on beholding 
the mournful desolation of the building she was 



NOCTURNAL VISIT. 1 15 

about entering ; for over the ruins of what was 
once great and noble, the heart of sensibility in- 
voluntarily laments. 

This building appeared to have suffered scarcely 
less from> desertion than from time. From its 
massy walls it might be seen, that had attention 
been paid to it, it would have retained much more 
of its primeval strength and grandeur than it did 
at present.. ..a strength and grandeur now too 
much injured ever to be restored. 

The swelling towers that flanked it, and the 
embattled ones that terminated the terrace, which 
on either side extended along the edge of the cliff, 
were mouldering away. Their battlements were 
broken, and fringed with weeds ; and the terrace 
itself, once fortified, was now covered with rank 
luxuriance. ...here the purple thistle reared its 
prickly head, and the long grass whistled* in the 
wind. The rich stone-work that ornamented the 
front of the edifice, was scarcely discernible 
through the moss of years, and many of the nar- 
row casements were half obscured by creeping ivy. 

On reaching the gate which opened from the 
bridge into the court, Jacintha's companion rang 
the bell which hung within it. Whilst they stood 
waiting for admission, Jacintha attentively exa- 
mined the pile, the decay of which was now ren- 
dered more conspicuous and awfully impressive, 
by the kind of luminous gloom, if I may be al- 
lowed the expression, which the streaming purple 
of the setting sun cast over it. As she gazed, the 
following lines, truly descriptive of it, occurred to 
her recollection: 

•' Methinks suspicion and distrust dwell here, 
" Starting", with meagre forms, thro' grated windows ; 
" Death lurks within, and unrelenting punishment 
il Without; grim danger, fear, and fiercest power, 



1 1 6 NOCTURNAL VISIT. 

" Sit on the rude old tow'rs and Gothic battlements ; 
*' While horror overlooks the dreadful wall, 
" And frowns on all around." 



In a few minutes an approaching step was heard, 
and soon after a man appeared, peeping over the 
terrace wall. The instant Jacintha's companion, 
mademoiselle Dupont, perceived him, she ad- 
dressed him in familiar terms, and bade him hasten 
to let them in. He answered her with a loud ex- 
clamation, expressive of surprise ; and quickly 
descending, unbarred the gate, and revealed to the 
eyes of Jacintha, the interior of a court, not less 
dismal than the walls which environed it. 

This man was old, meanly habited, and seemed 
well acquainted with mademoiselle Dupont ; a cir- 
cumstance which did not surprise Jacintha, as she 
understood this was not her first visit to the cha- 
teau. Pie examined Jacintha with the most scru- 
tinizing earnestness, and eagerly inquired from 
her companion the cause of this unexpected visit; 
to which inquiry he received no direct answer. 

They entered from the court into a spacious hall, 
supported by a double row of black marble pillars, 
through which the small arched casements ad- 
mitted too feeble a light to dissipate the gloom 
that reigned throughout. At its extremity were 
folding doors of heavy workmanship, which opened 
into the interior of the building, and above them 
a stately gallery, with " tasteless sculpture deck- 
ed,'^' from whence, in former days, the lords and 
ladies of the castle viewed, upon particular occa- 
sions, the pastimes of their vassals. 

Of those days, nothing now remained but the 
most melancholy memorials.. ..no object here but 
seemed mortality to mourn. " And like these," 
involuntarily cried Jacintha to herself; " inwv 



NOCTURNAL VISIT. 1 1 7 

steps I now tread with reverential awe, I shall 
one day pass away, and be forgotten* Surely, if 
such a reflection was oftener indulged, the pride 
and vanity of man would be checked. < When 
he thought that the valiant must one day fail, and 
be no more known on his hills;' he would endea- 
vour to render himself renowned whilst he could, 
not by ostentation, but by virtue. He would en- 
deavour to perpetuate his .memory, not by monu- 
ments, doomed, like himself, sooner or later, to 
inevitable decay ; but by such actions as should 
benefit others, and give him a claim to the gra- 
titude of posterity." 

On passing through the folding doors, which 
fronted a grand staircase, they stopped, and the 
shrill voices of Jacques re-echoed through the roof, 
and soon brought his family, consisting of a wife, 
a daughter, and two sons, both grown up, about 
him. They manifested not less astonishment than 
he had done, at beholding mademoiselle, and, 
like him, gazed earnestly at Jacintha. 

Mademoiselle, having answered a few trifling 
questions, led the way to a parlour, which it was 
evident, from the dusty appearance of the faded 
furniture, and the damp smell within it, had long 
been unoccupied. Here she left Jacintha, telling 
her she would soon return, and , withdrew with 
Jacques and family, who had followed her to the 
door, which she carefully closed after her. 

The dejection with which the melancholy ap- 
pearance of every thing about her had infected 
the mind of Jacintha, was increased by solitude, 
and her tears began to flow. A sadness not to be 
described, weighed heavy on her heart, at the 
idea of being amongst total strangers, far, far re- 
mote from all who loved.. ..from all who were in- 
terested about her. 



1 1 3 NOCTURNAL VISIT. 

In vain she tried to cheer her spirits, by re- 
flecting that she should soon enjoy the company 
of the countess. They were too deeply affected 
to be easily re-animated ; and the deepening* 
gloom of evening, which now not only involved 
the cloud-capped mountains she viewed from the 
apartment, but the apartment itself, in mournful 
obscurity, threw such an additional gloom upon 
them, that she was about seeking mademoiselle 
Dupont, who continued much longep absent than 
she expected, when she made her appearance, 
preceded by Josephine, the daughter of Jacques, 
bearing a light. 

" In tears, mademoiselle !" exclaimed she; " I 
am afraid this dismal habitation has made you 
melancholy.' , 

" It has, indeed," replied Jacintha. 

u Then we must try to enliven you," said ma- 
demoiselle ; and taking the cold hand of Jacintha, 
she led her from this parlour to another, at some 
distance from it, not less spacious, but rendered 
infinitely more cheerful by a blazing wood-fire. 

Here Jacques and his wife were both busily 
employed laying the cloth for supper, at which, 
not only they, but their daughter attended, and 
during which they frequently joined in the con- 
versation. This was a liberty which their age, 
and the long period, she understood, they had 
served in the earl of Dunsane's family, excused 
to Jacintha, who felt amused by the little anec- 
dotes they related respecting it. 

Mademoiselle Dupont seemed pleased to ob- 
serve her dejection lessened, and exerted herself 
to banish it completely. She assured her there 
w r as no doubt of the countess's being at the 
teau in a day or two, and threw out indirect 



NOCTURNAL VISIT. 1 i 9 

of the admiration and tenderness which she was 
convinced she felt for. her.. ..hints which contri- 
buted more forcibly than any thing else, to impart 
a soothing charm to the mind of Jacintha. 

Soon after supper she proposed retiring to rest 
....a proposal extremely agreeable to Jacintha, 
who was fatigued both in body and mind. Jose- 
phine accordingly tripped up the great staircase 
before them, bearing lights ; and from whence 
she conducted them down a long gallery, orna- 
mented with old portraits large as life, and which 
appeared frowning from their pondrous frames, 
at the neglect to which they were consigned. 

At the extremity of this gallery was the cham- 
ber destined for Jacintha. Josephine threw open 
the door, and mademoiselle having glanced with- 
in it, hastily wished her good night. At this instant 
Jacintha thought mademoiselle's countenance as- 
sumed a ghastly paleness, and instead of repeating 
her wish, she eagerly inquired whether she was 
unwell. 

" Unwell!" said mademoiselle: " no, what 
makes you imagine I am r" 

Jacintha informed her. 

" No-a," said she, " I am merely tired-a." 

" Then I will no longer detain you-a," cried Ja- 
cintha ; and taking a light from Josephine, whose* 
attendance she declined, she entered the chamber, 
and closed the door. 

Had the heart of Jacintha been at all inclined 
to superstition, the sepulchral gloom of this cham- 
ber was well calculated to awaken it; but against 
this weakness the well-remembered lessons of 
Greville, and her own strength of mind, guarded 
her. She could not, however, without a shud- 
dering sensation, survey it, and perhaps would 



120 NOCTURNAL VISIT. 

not have felt sorry to have had the company of 
mademoiselle Dupont. It was not only larger, 
but more dreary than the apartments she had 
seen below. Its tapestry, torn in many places, 
discovered a dark wainscoting of oak ; and the 
long purple curtains, which descended from the 
lofty tester of the bed, appeared, by the faint 
light which now gleamed upon them, to be black. 
Mournful images of death rose to the imagina- 
tion of Jacintha, and she stood some minutes lost 
in pensive meditation; then feeling that melan- 
choly, which had so recently been banished from 
her mind, fast gaining upon it, she recommend- 
ed herself to the protection of Heaven, and sought 
in sleep to lose her cares. Sleep, however, was 
far from delivering her from them; frightful vi- 
sions disturbed and terrified her, and she rose in 
the morning oppressed and unrefreshed. The 
bright beams of the sun which darted into the 
chamber, somewhat cheered her mind, and it was 
still more enlivened by the beautiful prospect it 
commanded. The windows looked over the walls 
of the court into a smiling valley, watered by 
clear rivulets, covered with rich verdure, and 
scattered over with flocks and clambering herds. 
The ascents on the opposite side were clothed to 
their very summits with luxuriant pines, amidst 
which, in the remote landscape, a shepherd's 
cabin here and there peeped forth, whilst sur- 
mounting all, appeared congregated rocks and 
mountains, their etherial summits now every mo- 
ment brightening to the view. 

Jacintha stood long admiring this pleasing scene, 
and then quitted the chamber to descend the 
stairs. At the foot of the staircase she was met by 
Josephine and her mother Nannette, from whom 



NOCTURNAL VISIT. 1 2 1 

she inquired whether mademoiselle Dupont was 
yet up. 

" Yes, she has been up some time," replied Nan- 
nette, as she led the way into the parlour where 
Jacintha had supped the preceding night, and in 
which the breakfast things were now laid. 

" Then she will be here soon? I suppose," said 
Jacintha. 

u Not very soon, I believe, mademoiselle," re- 
plied Nannette, smiling : a this letter (and draw- 
ing one from her bosom, she presented it to Ja- 
cintha) may perhaps account for her absence." 

" Her absence !" repeated Jacintha. " Good hea- 
ven ! what do you mean r" and snatching the ] li- 
ter, she eagerly tore it open, and read the following 
lines : 

" The sword hangs suspended over your head ; 
breathe but a syllable of what you have divulged 
to me, and it falls. Yes, a still heavier punish- 
ment than that which your presumption has drawn 
upon you, will then be yours, if you dare to 
close, even in the solitary confinement to which 
you are doomed for life, that secret I wish t< 
concealed. From what I have done, judge of 
lam capable of doing ; so provoke no farther the 
vengeance of 

"A. DUN -SANE." 

Overpowered by the dreadful shock this letter 
gave her, Jacintha sunk fainting on the floor. 
When she recovered, she found herself supported 
between Nannette and 11 the rest 

of the fan enabled ab She looked 

wildly roi for a minute; then recollecting 

her situat disengaged Ijcrselfjaad obeying 

L 



122 NOCTURNAL VISIT. 

the impulse of her feelings, threw herself upon 
her knees, and implored them to have pity upon 
her, and restore her to that liberty of which she 
had been so cruelly, so unjustly, so treacherously 
deprived. 

She used all her eloquence to awaken their hu- 
manity. She offered to put many valuable pre- 
sents which she had received from Egbert (and 
which, with the remainder of her things, she 
packed up, and brought with her to France,) into 
their possession, if they would set her free. But 
supplications and offers were alike unavailing ; and 
Jacques, in rather a disdainful tone, at length ex- 
claimed...." Lady, we eat the bread of the countess, 
and nothing can bribe us to betray the trust she 
has reposed in us." 

" Fidelity is here not a virtue, but a crime," 
said Jacintha. " No tie, no obligation can bind 
you to be accomplices in cruelty and injustice." 

" I shall enter into no argument with you, young 
lady," replied Jacques. t " All I shall say to you 
is, that lam not to be warped from what I consi- 
der my duty, and that therefore you had better try 
to reconcile yourself to your situation. Come, let 
me prevail on you to do so," attempting to raise 
her as he spoke. 

Jacintha resisted the effort, and clung to his 
wife. 

" Will you not compassionate me ?" she cried. 
" Will you not intercede forme? Oh! act tome 
as you w£tild wish others to act to your daughter, 
were she in my situation ; so may you and yours 
never want a friend I" 

" Dear ]hcl\ ? " said Nannette, " we cannot dis- 
obey the commands of those we serve ; but depend 
) it, every thing that can render yo 



NOCTURNAL VISIT. 123 

here, we will do. Follow the advice, therefore, of 
my husband, and try to compose yourself." 

" Good heaven!" cried Jacintha, in an agony, 
" is it then impossible to move you t6 justice or 
compassion ? Under what pretext ^am I detained 
here ?" 

" 'Tis not our business to inquire into the coun- 
tess's motives for sending you hither," answered 
Jacques evasively ; " all we have to do, is to obey 
her." 

" The time may come," cried Jacintha, starting 
from her knees, while her eyes lightened with in- 
dignation, " when you may have cause to repent 
that obedience. I am not the unfriended creature 
you may have been led to imagine ; no, I have 
friends who will follow, who will seek me at the 
remotest verge of the earth." 

" Well, when they seek you here, I have no 
doubt you will be restored to them," said Jacques, 
with a deriding laugh ; " till then, lady, you must 
be patient." 

The glow Which sudden indignation had diffused 
over the cheel&of Jacintha, faded from it ; her heart 
again sunk in terror and despondence ; and throw- 
ing herself upon a chair, she covered her face with 
her hands, and burst into tears. 

Nannette attempted to administer consolation, 
but was interrupted by Jacques, who, on Jacintha's 
turning disdainfully from her, exclaimed, in an in- 
dignant tone, " Come, come, Nannette, I desire 
you may not intrude your kindness upon the young 
lady ; wait till she is sensible of the value of it." 

He then insisted on his family's retiring with 
him, and leaving Jacintha to her own reflections. 

" Am I really awake?" cried Jacintha, uncover- 
\er face, as they withdrew from the room, and 



i 24 NOCTURNAL VISIT. 

looking wildly round it, " or am I in a frightful 
dream? Alas, no!" she exclaimed, clasping her 
hands together, " I am too surely inveigled from 
my friends, remote from all who love.... who are 
interested about me. And is it the authors of my 
being who have doomed me to wretchedness ? Is it 
my mother, from whom I had a right to expect ten- 
derness.. .is it my father, from whom I should have 
experienced protection, that have consigned me to 
misery. ..to misery, for merely indulging a sweet, 
a natural hope of finding friends in them? Deceit- 
ful hope ! would to heaven I had never indulged 
it! But I will not despair; no," she continued, 
again throwing herself upon her knees, " I will 
not despair of deliverance from this unjust capti- 
vity. My earthly parents may forsake me, but 
thou, my heavenly Father, wilt never abandon 
me, whilst in thee I place my confidence, my 
trust!" 

Soothed by this idea, her mind regained a suf- 
ficient degree of composure to permit her to re- 
flect ; and she now began to rejoice at what but a 
short time before she had regretted on her mo- 
ther's account, namely, having been compelled to 
acquaint Woodville with the indiscretion of that 
mother, in order to acquit herself, in his opinion, 
of that which he suspected her of having commit- 
ted. This disclosure, together with the know- 
ledge of her having quitted the kingdom with lord 
Gwytherin, would, she now considered, afford her 
friends a clue by which they might trace her ; and 
she well knew (from her knowledge of the laws of 
her country) that lord Gwytherin, though her fa- 
ther, must answer for her safety, which she thought 
he could scarcely do to the satisfaction of those 
who inquired after it, without bringing her 



NOCTURNAL VISIT. . lis 

ward. What motive could have instigated him to 
consign her to the tyrannic power of the countess, 
she could not conjecture, since he knew, what 
perhaps the countess might have doubted, that her 
solicitude to conceal the secret of her birth, was 
not greater than their own. 

Every sentiment of tenderness and'respect which 
she had ever been inclined to feel for either, was 
now changed into abhorrence and disgust. Her 
soul recoiled at the idea of their barbarity and de- 
ceit ; and she fervently, though involuntarily, 
prayed she might never behold them again. 

She continued alone upwards of an hour ; at the 
expiration of that period, Nannette and Josephine 
returned, and both, by their looks, even more than 
their words, evinced their surprise and pleasure 
at seeing her so much more tranquil than when 
they had left her. 

" Ah, mademoiselle," said Nannette, *' this is 
shewing your wdsdom, indeed ; nothing can be 
more foolish than to fret about what ca.nnot be re- 
medied. You'll find that you will be happier here 
than you expect. Here's a fine noble mansion for 
you to range about in, and a pleasant walk for you 
without it, and folks about you all ready to oblige 
you and serve you. Josephine, in particular, who 
has taken a great fancy to you, shall be your attend- 
ant, and I assure you she is a nice handy little girl." 

" What walk is that you have mentioned with, 
he chateau ?" asked Jacintha. 

" The court beneath the windows of your cham- 

" What ! am I to be confined within its narrow 

bounds?" said Jacintha, who encouraged a hope, 

that if permitted to wander beyond them, she 

nity of prevailing on soma 

L 2 



126 NOCTURNAL VISIT. 

peasant, by a bribe, to take a letter for her, ac- 
quainting Woodville with her situation, to a post- 
town. 

" Such are our orders," replied Nannette. 

" And pray," asked Jacintha, after a momentary 
pause, occasioned by the struggling emotions of 
her soul, " what reason has the countess assigned 
for confining me here l" 

Nannette hesitated for some minutes, and then 
said she was not at liberty to tell. 

" But you can tell whether you think it a suffi- 
cient one for depriving me of my liberty." 

Nannette again hesitated, and then replied, she 
could not give an opinion upon such a subject. 
" Come, mademoiselle" she added, " let me make 
your breakfaslfc *ric! tlen't trouble yourself with 
making mquii*re?wht|rt* cannot be answered. 

" You can^avel^p c&flction to inform me when 
mademoiselle I ; , i C^N^ted, I suppose," said 
Jacintha. 

" No ; she went away dt an early hour this morn- 
ing." 

" And only from her you received your intelli- 
gence respecting me ?" 

" Only from her," said Nannette. 

" Treacherous creature!" involuntarily ex- 
claimed Jacintha. " Yet let me not," she reflected, 
" condemn her unheard ; she may, perhaps, have 
been imposed upon by a fabricated tale." 

Whilst making breakfast, Jacinthamade another 
effort to interest Nannette in her favour, but, like 
her former efforts, it was unsuccessful ; and she, 
at length, determined to desist from supplications 
which she perceived would render her confine- 
ment more insupportable, by exciting a greater 
iegree of watchfulness in her gaolers, and endea- 



NOCTURNAL VISIT. 227 

vour to support, with patience and fortitude, what 
she trusted would prove temporary imprisonment. 
Her mind, however, during the day, underwent 
many revolutions. Alternately it experienced the 
elevation of hope, and the depression of despair. 
Sometimes fearing that lord Gwytherin and the 
countess might he able to devise such a scheme, 
as would either prevent, or put a stop to the in- 
quiries of her friends* then again flattering herself 
that nothing short of the most unequivocal proofs 
of her fate, would silence their anxious solicitude 
about her. 

'From the attention of Jacques and his family, 
she concluded the^cpvintess Ji&d ordered her to be 
treated with respAt^^SHEj^ted motives, how- 
ever, more thai>^^p»j^^^P»jJe^ countess, she 
was indebte&*J^?|yi^MB flattered 

them selves/ by i^B3^^^H^nBjPipme part of 
those v aluab 1 (j Hi ^gy gKKK t^HflJO^ * ^ Dv offer- 
ing them* as a rec fvI^P^^|riHPw|estoration of 
her liberty, had acS0^^^%flSM^& in her pos- 

The parlour- in wlricfi;sftG3£«pped with ma- 
demoiselle Dupont, was ap^Jss^jn^ted solely to her 
use, and Josephine was Appointed to attend her. 

There was an innocence, a simplicity in the man- 
ners of this young girl ; and expression of tender 
pity in her countenance, which rendered her plea- 
sing to Jacintha, who tried, by conversing with her, 
to divert herself from the contemplation of her own 
unhappiness. 

The restof the family she regarded with distrust 
and apprehension. The traces of cruelty and cun- 
ning were discernible in their countenances, and 
she could not avoid considering them as the ready 
instruments of treachery and oppression. In 



1-28 NOCTURNAL VISIT. 

thinking so she was not mistaken ; and in confid- 
ing her to their care, the countess well knew she 
had nothing to fear from. their humanity. 

Jacintha was represented to them as a distant 
relation of the countess, entrusted to her protec- 
tion, for the express purpose of having her confined 
for life, in consequence of some indiscretions she 
had committed in England, and which her friends 
had every reason to apprehend her repeating, if 
she regained her liberty. 

It was now necessary to explain the motives which 
induced lord Gwytherin to act so cruel and perfi- 
dious a part towards Jacintha* 



<:n© of volume hi*. 



NOCTURNAL VISIT, 



A TALE. 



BY MARIA REGINA ROCHE, 

AUTHOR OF THE CHILDREN OF THE ABBEY, MAID O.J? 

THE HAMLET, VICAR OF LANSDOWNE, AND 

CLERMONT. 



" Thou com*st in such a questionable shape, 
" That I will speak to thee." 

SHAKSFEARB* 



VOL, IV, 



PHILADELPHIA : 

PUBLISHED BY JOHN CONRAD, & CO NO. 30, CHESNUT 
STREET, PHILADELPHIA; M. & I. CONRAD, &. CO. 
NO. 144, MARKET-STREET, BALTIMORE; AND IlAFIN, 
CONRAD, &. CO. WASHING : O:: CITY. 

H. MAXWELL, PRINTER. 



loOt. 



NOCTURNAL VISIT. 



CHAP. I 



" Mournful is the tale 
si Which ye so fain would know." 

HERMIT OF WARKWO&1K. 



THE countess, apprehensive of unpleasant 
co nsequencesto herself, from Jacintha's being ac- 
quainted with the secret of her birth, appointed an 
interview with lord Gwytherin, for the purpose of 
endeavouring to prevail upon him to resign her 
entirely into her (the countess's) hand, and thus 
give her an opportunity of preventing what she 
apprehended. As a means of prevailing upon him 
to accede to this measure, she solemnly assured 
him, if he consented to it, she would enable him 
to free himself from the difficulties which, from 
private information, she knew had alone made him 
think of an union with her.. ..an union to which she 
candidly confessed her abhorrence. 

Lord Gwytherin finding her resolutely bent on 
rejecting his nand, at last came into her terms ; 
previously stipulating, however, that he should be 
tinted with the fate to which she had destined 
Jacinth: . Tl is 3 1 e accordingly revealed, and, callous 
as he was to the feelings ol humanity, he could not 



4 NOCTURNAL VISIT. 

hear it without emotion ; or rather, such a pang* of 
remorse at the idea of being accessary to it.. .at the 
idea of betraying the confidence which was reposed 
in him, as scarcely a contemplation of the advan- 
tages that would attend his compliance with the 
countess's wishes, could dissipate. 

The countess, on the contrary, still more har- 
dened than he was (for sensibility and principle 
had long given up the very little ascendancy they 
had ever possessed over her heart, to ambition 
and avarice), felt not the slightest compunction at 
the idea of the lingering misery to which she con- 
demned Jacintha. The self-abatement she felt, 
in consequence of her birth, made her detest her 
ere she saw the light ; and she would much more 
willingly have consigned her to the grave (as in- 
deed she would willingly have consigned all who 
were acquainted with her disgrace) than to the 
protection of Greville. This detestation, rather 
strengthened than diminished by time, made her 
derive a malevolent pleasure from the idea of in- 
flicting pain upon her, and revenging upon the 
daughter, the injuries she had sustained from the 
father. 

But, exclusive of her aversion to Jacintha, she 
would have been unwilling to have acknowledged 
her, lest such an acknowledgment should have 
led to the discovery of a secret, upon the preserva- 
tion of which depended a reputation that gave to 
her the power of triumphing over those who were 
less fortunale than herself in concealing their in- 
discretion:! ; and, independent of her strong re j 
sentment against lord Gwytherin, she would hare 
declined his hand, in consequence of soir^ pri 
and important reasons she had for wsihing to 
herself to the marquis de Montalde \ reason 






NOCTURNAL VISIT. I 

•which, if communicated to lord Gwytherin previ- 
ous to his quitting England, would have deterred 
him from visiting France. 

In this visit he had desired the company of Jacin- 
tha, not for the purpose of promoting her happi- 
ness, as he had pretended, but merely from selfish 
considerations. Her interesting loveliness, he 
thought, could not fail of awakening all the tender 
feelings of a mother in the heart of lady Dunsane 
(of which he judged more favourably than it de- 
served), and rendering her a successful advocate 
in his favour. 

This idea, and this only, was his inducement for 
taking her to the continent. About her felicity 
or welfare, farther than either could have promot- 
ed his own, he felt almost totally uninterested, and 
had entirely banished her from his thoughts, from 
the moment he learned she was not (as he had sup- 
posed, and to which supposition was owing the 
discovery of her birth) the destined heiress of Mr. 
Decourcy, until he thought she could be servicea- 
ble to him. 

His solicitude for an union with lady Dunsane, 
was not prompted by any revival of his once ar- 
dent passion for her, but merely because he knew, 
from the information of his friend, Mr. Villers, 
that she had amply the power of extricating him 
from the embarrassments in which, through the 
failure of his matrimonial projects in England, he 
saw himself involved. This failure rose from the 
unfortunate discovery of his real circumstances ; 
as those who could have brought themselves to 
overlook the relaxation of his pi'inciples, could by 
no means disregard the deranged state of his af- 
fairs. 



6 NOCTURNAL VISIT. 

It required all Jacintha's confidence in heaven, 
and strength of mind, to support her under her 
estrangement from her friends, incertitude and 
anxiety about them, and the dreadful ideas which 
sometimes started, of a prolonged captivity. ..ideas, 
from which she tried to fly, as ones leading to 
horror and madness. In vain she importuned her 
keepers to transmit a letter from her to the coun- 
tess ; trusting, if she could get one conveyed to 
her, containing a solemn assurance of secrecy, and 
representing the consequences that could scarcely 
fail of resulting from her detention, she might, per- 
haps, be abJe to obtain her enlargement. They 
were inexorable to ail her entreaties ; either pre- 
tending, or really believing, they should draw upon 
themselves the displeasure of lady Dunsane, if 
they complied with them. 

Jacintha endeavoured, by making use of all the 
little resources of amusement within her power, 
to banish despondence, and prevent unavailing 
complaints.. ..She had brought some books with 
her from England, which, with the rest of her 
things, came with her to the chateau; and with 
these, and her conversations with Josephine, who 
every day grew more pleasing to her, she was en- 
abled, not only to diversify her time, but often to 
dissipate the gloom of reflection. 

Under happier circumstances than the present, 
the magniticent and varied scenery by which she 
was surrounded, would have been a source of the 
(st delight and pleasure to her ; but it requires 
a mind at ease to enjoy the charms of Nature. 
Perturbed as was Jacintha's, there were moments 
when the wild and beautiful prospects about her 
habitation, had power to detach her from the con- 
templation of her unhappiness; and, by inspiring 



NOCTURNAL VISIT. 7 

her with still sublimer sentiments of devotion for 
the Author of such glorious works, raise in her 
" an undergoing stomach, to bear up against what 
should ensue." 

She frequently wished to wander beyond the 
precincts of the castle ; but this was a wish which, 
like that relative to the conveyance of a letter to 
the countess, would not be granted. She did not, 
however, as more stubborn spirits would have 
done, disdain a limited indulgence. Some part of 
every day she passed in walking about the court ; 
and in the evening, in particular, she liked to saun- 
ter about it, and watching from its walls the shep- 
herds in the vale below, collecting their flocks for 
the night, and listen to their simple music ; for 
here the Arcadian life was still preserved in ail 
its former purity. 

" The flock was regularly penned every evening, 
to preserve them from the ravages of the wolf; and 
the shepherd returned homewards at sunset, with 
his sheep following him, and seemingly pleased 
with the sound of the pipe, which was blown with 
a reed, and resembled the chanter of a bagpipe*." 

Here Jacintha saw the dreams of fancy, the 
descriptions of the poet realized, with an admira- 
tion, a delight, which often not only soothed, but 
absorbed her cares, and diffused such a tranquilli- 
ty over her mind, as permitted her to enjoy the 
pleasures of imagins.tion....pleasures which, by a 
kind of magic, can reanimate the drooping soiu, 
render even the captive forgetful of his chains, 
and irradiate his dungeon ; pleasures, of which it 
is doubtful whether they do not exceed the reality 
of those imparted by the possession of what -we 
desire ; pleasures, which can create a paradise 
around us ; which can give us the perfume of 
* Goldsmith, 



8 NOCTURNAL VISIT. 

flowers, the melody of birds, the mystic murmur 
of the woods, the tenderness of love, the sympathy 
of friendship, yea, all that can render life desira- 
ble. 

But though Jacintha sustained the early period 
of her confinement with patience and fortitude, 
when she saw v/eek after week stealing away, 
without effecting her deliverance, her spirits began 
to sink into a dejection, which not all her efforts at 
times could overcome. 

As she was traversing her apartment one morn- 
ing, in one of these melancholy moods, her eye 
accidentally fell upon apart of the tapestry, which 
was torn to the bottom, and through the wainscot- 
ing, from which it was rent, a stream of light now 
issued, which evidently proved an aperture in it. 
She directly approached, to try whether, as she 
imagined, the panel was loose ; and, to her ex- 
treme surprise, on pressing her hand against it, 
it slid back, and discovered a large closet, lit by 
an arched window at the end. 

Attracted by curiosity, Jacintha entered it, and 
was greatly struck by the singularity of the furni- 
ture. An ebony table, of heavy, yet curious work- 
manship, stood at one side, close to the wall ; above 
it was a crucifix of the same, and upon it a book, 
richly bound, which, upon examining, Jacintha 
found to be a missal ; while, on either side, were 
neatly pencilled, several texts from holy." writ, and 
altogether proved, it had been fitted up for prayer 
and meditation. 

Jacintha continued attentively examining all 
within it, till interrupted by Josephine, who, un- 
expectedly entering the chamber, ran to her, ex- 
claiming 

" So, mademoiselle, you have discovered the 
closet." 



NOCTURNAL VISIT. 

" Is there any reason for wishing it concealed ?" 
asked Jacintha, coming from it. 

Josephine hesitated. 

" Why, I don't know, mademoiselle : but you 
had better say nothing about it to my mother,' ' 
pulling back the panel as she spoke. 

" Who furnished it ?" asked Jacintha. 

" A lady," answered Josephine. 

" What lady. ...the countess of Dunsane ?" 

il Lord, no," replied Josephine, " I never saw 

the countess she never was here since I was 

born." 

" But the lady who furnished the closet was....'* 

Josephine shook her head. 

a Pray ask me no questions," said she. 

" Indeed but I must," cried Jacintha, " and you 
must answer them." 

" I do not wish to disoblige you, mademoiselle," 
said Josephine ; " but if it was known that I told 
you " 

" It never shall," interrupted Jacintha. 

" I pledge my honour not to divulge what you 
disclose." 

" Well, mademoiselle, I will depend upon you ; 
....but indeed I can give you very little informa- 
tion respecting the poor lady you are inquiring 
about. She was an inhabitant of this castle before 
I was born." 

&' What was her name," eagerly demanded 
Jacintha, " or her motive for residing here ?" 

" I assure you I never heard her name : and my 
parents either could not, or would not let me know 
the cause of her confinement." 

"Confinement !" repeated Jacintha, " what, was 
she then confined ?" 

Josephine shook her head. 
m 2 



10 ' NOCTURNAL VISIT. 

"Good God !" exclaimed Jacintha* " this is not 
the first time then, this building has served the 
purposes of tyranny and oppression." 

" Poor lady ! I believe she was hardly used, 
indeed," said Josephine ; " but, however great 
her sorrows might have been, she never gave 
utterance to them. But they were seen in her 
face, and I learned to pity her when I was but 
young. Indeed, I should have been ungrateful, 
if I had not done so, and also loved her sincerely ; 
for she was kind and gentle to me. I am indebt- 
ed to her, besides, for almost all I know ; and so 
is my youngest brother, whom she loved even 
better than his own mother did." 

" Your youngest brother," repeated Jacintha, 
astonished that so ungracious a being should have 
attracted such regard. 

" Oh, not Claude," replied Josephine, as if 
she had developed the thoughts of Jacintha, " he 
is not my youngest brother. You never saw him, 
for he left this castle before you came to it." 

" And he was such a favourite ?" 

" Yes ; she taught him many things, which I 
had no time to learn, from being obliged to as- 
sist my mother in domestic concerns ; and to this 
hour he will weep and lament for her." 

" She died, then ?" said Jacintha. 

« No." 

** She was released, then?" 

" No, she escaped," said Josephine. 

" How, in what manner ?" eagerly interrogat- 
ed Jacintha, in hopes of having some idea sug- 
gested to her, which might, perhaps, forward her 
•,>'vn escape. 

" From a window in this chamber." 

ci Impossible !" said Jacintha, going to a win- 
eiow, and looking from it. w The height is too 



NOCTURNAL VISIT- 1 1 

great from the ground, to admit the possibility of 
an escape this way." 

" And yet this is the way she got cff," cried 
Josephine. 

" Who were suspected of having aided her 
escape?" demanded Jacintha, 

" Some of the peasants in the valley, to whom, 
they concluded, she had found means of revealing 
her situation, were suspected by my father and 
mother," replied Josephine. 

" And was there no search, no inquiry after 
her ?" 

" Oh yes," Josephine answered, " but to no 
effect." 

" And how," cried Jacintha, " did those who 
had confined her, bear the knowledge of her 
flight ?" 

" I never heard," replied Josephine. " But, 
poor lady ! had she borne her confinement with 
patience a little longer, she would have been re- 
leased without any trouble or danger. She was 
only gone two days, when a very fine gentleman, 
who called himself her friend, and was attended 
by a number of servants, came here, he said, to 
deliver her ; and when he heard she was fled, 
he raved and stormed, and insisted on searching 
the whole chateau for her." 

" This was strange," said Jacintha, musing. 

" 'Twas unlucky," cried Josephine. " Poor 
lady !" added she, with a sigh, " I much fear some 
dreadful mischance happened to her." 

" What reason have you for this fear?" asked 
Jacintha. 

" You'll think me foolish, if I tell you ; but I 
am convinced she met with an untimely death, 
from the mournful sounds, exactly like those of 
her voice, which I heard one evening." 



12 NOCTURNAL VISIT. 

" Where?" asked Jacintha, starting. 

" From the tower, at the end of the east ter- 
race. As I was walking there one evening, about 
sunset, I thought I heard a low moaning sound, 
from a small grated window, which just opens 
above ground. I stopped to listen, and soon dis- 
tinguished a voice like her's. This was sufficient 
to make me fly back. I told my father and mo- 
ther what I had heard, and they agreed with me, 
in thinking it was an intimation of her death ; 
from that hour I have never gone near the place." 

" Never!" repeated Jacintha, in an accent ex- 
pressive of horror. 

" Never," replied Josephine. 

The dreadful surmise, which had but a moment 
before started in the mind of Jacintha, was now 
confirmed. It was evident to her, that those who 
imprisoned the unhappy captive were apprized 
of v her friends having discovered her prison, and 
had given timely orders for her removal from the 
apartments she occupied, to a solitary dungeon, 
where there was no probability of her being sought 
for. The more she reflected, the more confirmed 
she became in this conjecture, and that of the in- 
nocent and credulous Josephine's being imposed 
upon by a fabricated story. 

The dreadful idea of being in the power of 
those who had committed such an atrocious act 
of cruelty, of those who might again be tempted 
to perpetrate actions equally inhuman... the dread- 
ful idea of the inquiries and solicitude of her friends, 
involving her, perhaps, in still greater wretched- 
ness than she already experienced, chilled her 
heart, and almost overpowered her faculties. 

Josephine, observing her change colour, sud- 
denly exclaimed.... 



NOCTURNAL VISIT. 13 

" Bless me, mademoiselle, are you ill ?" 

" 111," repeated Jacintha, after a pause, " no; 
but I am affected. Methinks this poor lady's 
fate has brought mine before my eyes." 

" Dear me, mademoiselle, don't encourage such 
gloomy ideas ?" 

" How can I avoid doing so," replied Jacintha, 
w when every thing conspires to excite them ? 
Ah ! Josephine, think how you would feel, if you 
were in my situation : debarred of liberty, remote 
from your native country; and separated from all 
you love on earth !" 

" To be sure, 'tis very distressing," said Jose- 
phine, with tears in her eyes. 

" And why, my dear Josephine, do your pa- 
rents join in oppressing the weak and the inno- 
cent ?" 

" They are not free agents, mademoiselle," 
cried Josephine, with a heightened colour. " Their 
all depends on their obedience and fidelity to the 
countess ; and if they commit an error, 'tis she, 
who leads them into that error, must be answer- 
able for it. But don't despair; your friends, per- 
haps, may discover your situation, and " 

" If they did," interrupted Jacintha, " should 
I be nearer happiness? Might not the hand which 
destroyed " 

Here she recollected herself, and paused as 
she was on the point of revealing her suspicions 
concerning the unhappy captive ; about whom, as 
soon as she recovered from the confusion into 
which the imprudence she had been so near com- 
mitting threw her, she asked many questions ; 
as much to try and divert Josephine from dwell- 
ing on the agitation she had manifested, as from 
Guriosity. 



14 NOCTURNAL VISIT. 

Josephine readily answered all those questions. 
She extolled the beauty, the goodness, the piety, 
of the unfortunate lady, whose deportment, she 
said, bespoke her of superior rank. 

u The closet you discovered this morning, 
mademoiselle," she continued, " she fitted up for 
herself, as a little chapel. Thither she used to 
retire to her devotions. ..thither she often brought 
my brother and me, to make us join in prayer 
with her, and give us such instructions as, I am 
sure, will never be obliterated from our minds. 
'Tis now four years since she left this castle, and 
every thing since that period has appeared to me 
changed within it. The idea of her being so much 
happier in heaven than she could have been here, 
is my only consolation for her loss." 

" The thoughts of their superior I appiness,ean 
indeed be our only consolation for the loss of our 
friends," replied Jacintha. " Poor lady ! I trust 
she now enjoys a reward for all he? sufferings. 
But tell me, Josephine, did you never, in any 
manner, discover the source from whence they 
originated ?" 

" Never, I assure you, mademoiselle." 

" Do you in mademoiselle Dupontknew 

any thing respecting her?" asked Jacintha; the 
emotion which mademoiselle had betrayed the 
night she attended her to her chamber, now re- 
curring to her recollection. 

" I do oelieve she did," answered Josephine. 
" I understand, from my mother, she was always 
high in the confidence of the earl and countess 
of Dunsane ; an honour which, between ourselves, 
mademoiselle, I do not envy her." 

" Certainly not," said Jacintha ; " no honour 
can compensate for the loss of peace and self- 



NOCTURNAL VISIT. 15 

esteem. Happier, even in the midst of misery, 
are those whose hearts cannot reproach them with 
ever having intentionally injured a fellow-creature, 
than the oppressor of the innocent, though sur- 
rounded by all the luxuries of life." 

Josephine assented to the truth of this asser- 
tion, and then withdrew about her domestic bu- 
siness. 

The particulars which she had heard*- impres- 
sed Jacintha's mind with the deepest gloom and 
horror. The mysterious words of Mr. Villers, 
respecting the countess having some private rea- 
sons for wishing to keep fair with the marquis 
de Montalde, seemed now explained. It appear- 
ed almost evident to Jacintha, that he was ac- 
quainted with the secret relative to the unhappy 
captive, and that the hand and fortune of the 
countess were to be his recompence for preserv- 
ing it. 

" And is this inhuman, this unprincipled wo- 
man," said Jacintha, " at whose barbarity my 
soul recoils, is she my mother ? A being whom, 
by the laws of nature, I should have loved and 
revered ! Oh ! may penitence precede her death, 
and lead her to make some expiation for her of- 
fences. Gracious heaven ! how dreadful the idea 
of those offences ! Unhappy victim of her cru- 
elty ! sympathy, as well as compassion, makes 
me mourn thy fate ; for, alas i between it and my 
own, I behold too great a similitude. Should 
my captivity end like thine. ...but no, I will not 
dwell upon so horrible a thought. Oh God! 
though I should not live a moment after, let me 
be restored to my friends ! Let my last sigh be 
thed upon the bosom of him I love I Let 
me feel upon my pale cheek that kind domestic 



1 6 NOCTURNAL VISIT. 

tear, which gives to the expiring heart the sweet 
assurance of being remembered by those whom 
it regards !" 

Absorbed in melancholy reflections, she sat, 
pensively leaning her head upon her hand, till 
-roused by an ascending strain of sweet and so- 
lemn music. She started from her seat, and 
hastening to a stone balcony, which stretched be- 
fore the windows of her chamber, looked towards 
the place whence the sounds proceeded, and be- 
held the musician, in the habit of a shepherd, 
seated on a low-browed rock in the valley, at a 
little distance from the walls of the chateau, and 
which formed the base of more stupendous cliffs, 
whence a wild and purple foliage hung stream- 
ing over his head, shadowing him from the rays 
of a meridian sun. His staff lay beside him, his 
dog slumbered at his feet, his flock ranged over 
the flowery pasture uncontrouled, and altogether 
formed a scene romantic and picturesque. 

How a person in his station of life could have 
acquired such exquisite taste and scientific skill, 
as he displayed upon the flute, surprised Jacin- 
tha ; who, leaning from the balcony, listened to 
him with the most fixed attention. The gloom 
of her mind yielding to the powerful enchant- 
ment of his strains, and her despondence and 
terrors gradually giving way to a thrilling sensa- 
tion of delight, from what she felt, she thought, 
like the poet, that 

" Music, sweet artificer of pleasure, 

" Should not be exercised alone, 

" In festivals, on hymeneal days, 

" And in the full assemblies of thehappgr; 

Ci But rather should its skill be coHrted 



NOCTURNAL VISIT. XT 

" In sorrow's gloomy season, to diffuse 

44 Its smooth allurements through the languid ear 

" Of self-devour'd affliction, and delude 

'* The wretched from their sadness." 

When the shepherd's melodious madrigal was 
over, he raised his eyes from the ground, on 
which they had hitherto been bent, and, casting 
a careless glance after his scattered flock, he 
suddenly turned them towards the chateau, and 
rested them upon Jacintha. The distance was 
too great to permit Jacintha to distinguish his 
features, nor had she any curiosity to do so. She 
was only interested about his music; and, wishing 
him to prolong an amusement which had afford- 
ed her so much pleasure, she leaned still more 
forward, her long tresses flying wild and disor- 
dered in the breeze that fluttered round her, and 
endeavoured, by her gestures, to make him un- 
derstand those wishes. 

He continued to gaze at her for some minutes 
without moving ; then rising, he took up his staff, 
and appeared about making some motion to her, 
when suddenly starting, he looked behind him, 
and the next instant darted down the valley. As- 
tonished by his precipitate retreat, Jacintha 
endeavoured, but in vain, to discover the cause 
of it ; no new object appeared in the valley, to 
have inspired the alarm which he so evidently be- 
trayed. 

A hope of his return induced Jacintha to con- 
tinue a considerable time at the window, but she 
saw him no more ; and, by degrees, the pleasing 
impression his music had made upon her mind, 
yielded to the painful and still stronger impres- 
sion made upon it by the circumstances Josephine 
x 



i3 NOCTURNAL VISIT. 

had revealed. The horror they had inspired she 
could not shake off. The fate of the unhappy 
lady haunted her imagination, and seemed to warn 
her of her own ; and she shuddered whenever her 
eyes were involuntarily directed towards the de- 
caying tower,|where, she believed, the wretched 
captive had perished. 

Oppressed with terror and melancholy, Jacin- 
tha could not behold the decline of day without 
feeling an increase of both. She marked with 
sorrow and dismay, the lengthening shadows which 
proclaimed the approach of that darkness, now 
dreadful to her imagination, from an idea of the 
atrocious deeds she believed it had shrouded with- 
in the walls of the chateau : and saw the gleams 
of sunshine fading from the summits of the cliffs, 
and the purple glow of evening yielding to the dun 
shades of night, with the mostjmournful sensations. 

She now expressed a wish for Josephine's com- 
pany at night ; but, though Josephine herself 
seconded the wish, her mother positively refused 
complying with it ; and, to her refusal, Jacintha 
affixed a fearful meaning. 

Unable to sleep, yet still more unable to bear 
her present thoughts, Jacintha had recourse to a 
book, to try and divert them, but in vain ; and she 
revolving what she had heard, and what she 
ehended, till roused from her meditations by 
hearing the loud-resounding clock strike the hour 
of one. Perceiving her fire and lamp almost out, 
she immediately rose to undress, casting, as she 
did, a timid glance around the room, which, by 
the wavering and shadowy light that now gleam- 
ed within it, appeared to her more gloomy than 
it had ever done before, and well suited for the 



NOCTURNAL VISIT. 19 

perpetration of fearful deeds.. .such daeds, as she 
had reason to believe had been committed within 
it. A kind of superstitious terror, till now al- 
most a stranger to her breast, began to pervade 
it. Unnumbered stories of sheeted spectres, of 
accusing spirits, rising from the confines of the 
dead, to reveal enormities practised against them 
" in their days of nature". ...stories which, in the 
hour of cheerfulness and supposed security, she 
had denied all credence to, now occurred to 
recollection, forcing upon her mind a belief of 
their probability. 

She shuddered inwardly, and with difficulty 
could bring herself to move from her chair, by 
the fire, towards the dressing-table, which fronted 
the bed, the mournful drapery of which was re- 
flected in a large mirror that stood upon it. As 
she approached it, her eye accidentally glanced 
upon the sliding panel, which, to her extreme 
surprise, she now discovered partly pushed back. 
A dim light shone within the closet, calculated to 
heighten the unpleasant sensations of Jacintha, 
and she instinctively hastened to close it. Her 
efforts to do so, however, were unavailing ; and as 
she was repeating them with still greater energy, 
a cold hand encountered hers,.and suddenly caught 
it in its grasp ! Jacintha shrieked, and instantly, 
fainted. 



2# NOCTURNAL VISIT. 



CHAP. II. 



" Shepherd, I take thy word, 
And trust thy offer 'd service." milton, 



IT would be difficult to determine whe- 
ther the terror which had overpowered the senses 
of Jacintha was lessened or increased, when, on 
recovering them, she found herself supported in 
the arms of a young man. 

" Oh- heaven !" she exclaimed, after a transient 
glance at him, " for what destiny am I reserved?" 

" Be not alarmed, lady," cried he, in a gentle 
accent ; and placing her upon a chair, he knelt 
before her. " I am not come to injure, but to serve 
you." 

" Serve me?" repeated Jacintha, and looking 
earnestly at him. She now, by his dress, recog- 
nized him to be the shepherd whose delightful mu- 
sic had so entranced her in the morning. u Good 
God! who are you ?.. .how did you get hither ?" 
she exclaimed. 

He informed her he was son to the people who 
took care of the castle, and gained access to her 
chamber, by a way unknown to the rest of the 
family. 

u The purpose of my visit, is to offer you my 
services," said he, " and assist you in making 
your escape, if you wish to quit this place." 



NOCTURNAL VISIT. 2 1 

" If I wish to quit it !" said Jacintha. " Gracious 
heaven ! my peace, my happiness, nay, my life it- 
self, I believe," she added, in a kind of inward 
voice, " depend upon my quitting it. But is it 
possible," she cried, surveying him with still greater 
earnestness, " is it possible that thou, so generous 
and humane, canst, indeed, be the son of people 
so lost to feeling, so ready to become the instru- 
ments of treachery and oppression :" 

" Oh, lady !" said he, with downcast eyes and 
a mournful air, yet with a heightened colour, " Oh, 
lady ! I trust their poverty, and not their will, con- 
sents." 

" Excuse me," cried Jacintha, recollecting her- 
self; " to censure the parents, is but an ungrate- 
ful return to the son for the obligations he would 
confer upon me. But tell me by what means you 
can accomplish my escape. ..tell me by what means 
you have been inspired with compassion for me." 

" On returning, yesterday, to the chateau, from 
whence I had been some time absent," replied 
he, rising as he spoke, in compliance with Jacin- 
tha's motion, " Josephine, under a promise of 
secrecy, acquainted me with your confinement 
in it." 

" A promise of secrecy !" said Jacintha. 

" Yes. In a few days, my father and mother 
meant to send me from the castle entirely; and 
it was settled amongst the family, that I should 
know nothing of your residence within it.V 

" Ah 1" cried Jacintha, involuntarily, " that is a 
convincing proof to me that your disposition does 
net resemble theirs." 

u The particulars Josephine communicated, 5 ' 
ned the young stranger, " excited my pity ; 
saw you " 



22 NOCTURNAL VISIT. 

" How did you contrive to see me l". asked Ja- 
cintha. 

" I stole to a window which overlooked the court 
where you were walking. When I beheld you, I 
....." (he paused), " I resolved, mademoiselle, to 
adventure every thing to restore you to liberty.... 
^to a world you were formed to ornament. As soon 
as I conceived this resolution, I wished to get an 
opportunity of apprizing you of it, that I might 
not create alarm, by appearing unexpectedly be- 
fore you. For this purpose I took charge of a 
{lock, this morning, belonging to my father. I 
succeeded in drawing you to the window; but at 
the moment I was about making you a signal, which 
should give you some idea of my intentions, one of 
my brothers appeared at a distance, and I was ob- 
liged to fly, lest a suspicion should be excited of 
these intentions, and might cause them to be de- 
feated." 

" But how can I make my escape ?" asked Ja- 
cintha ; " or how avoid again falling into the h 
of those, who may, nay, will, I am sure, pursue 
me ?" 

u The means of your escape are easy," said he, 

" and iti my power ; and at a convent, about seven 

miles from this, you can obtain refuge, till the 

uit that will be made after you, is over." 

" Are you certain," demanded Jacintha, " t 

I shall be received into the convent?" 

u Yes ; 'tis bound by the rules of its order to 
give succour and shelter to all who need them, else 
many might perish from necessity and unexpected 
mischances, in these dreary and but thi 
bited regions." 

Jacintha bent her eyes to the ground 
speaking. A vague suspicion cros 



NOCTURNAL VISIT. 23 

and she hesitated how to act ; but this hesitation 
was over, and the suspicion which caused it> va- 
nished, when again looking at the young stranger, 
again fastening her eyes upon him with the most 
scrutinizing earnestness, she beheld candour and 
benevolence in every line of his countenance ; 
eyes that sparkled with sensibility and sweetness; 
and a brow, upon which, as Juliet says of Romeo's, 

" Shame would have been asham'd to sit." 

u No," she said to herself, " 'tis impossible this 
countenance can veil the dark purposes of an un- 
worthy heart." 

Hope and confidence again sprung up within 
her. " Her soul became resolved, the tear was dried 
from her wildly-looking eye, and a troubled joy 
rose on her mind, like the red path of the lightning 
on a stormy cloud." 

4i I accept your services/' cried she, starting 
from her chair, " with gratitude ; and may heaven 
requite you for your kindness to me i" 

" All, lady ! the knowledge of having served 
you, will be a sufficient requital to me. Eut has- 
ten, lady ; the gray dawn already begins to streak 

the east my father and brothers rise early, 

and " 

Jacintha, starting at the idea he suggested, has- 
tened to her trunk, and having made up a small 
lie of necessaries, she wrapped her pellisse 
about her, and gave him her h?,nd. ' He led her 
into the closet, near the window of which Jacintha 
perceived a panel, similar to that in the chamber, 
slid back, and beyond it a narrow flight of stone 
steps, that wound between the thick walls of the 
castle, and terminated in a door, which opened 
into the court. From this door they crossed to a 
.Her one at trie side of the court, almost hidden 



21 NOCTURNAL VISIT. 

by the weeds which grew without it, and which: 
Henri, not without difficulty, opened with a key 
he took from his pocket,- and Jacinth a found her- 
self upon the edge of a steep descent, overlooking 
the romantic valley she had so often admired from 
her windows, now dimly seen through the shadows 
of night. Henri supported and guided her down 
the intricate path, which ended in it, and near the 
foot of which she saw two mules, ready bridled 
and saddled, and tied to a tree. 

Surprise, at finding the plan of her escape so 
well arranged, made her lift her eyes to Henri's 
face, and again an unpleasant doubt obtruded on 
her mind, which again vanished, however, before 
the confidence his unembarrassed looks inspired. 
u Now, mademoiselle," cried he, taking hold of 
the bridle of the mule upon which he had lifted 
her, and mounting himself, " now, mademoiselle," 
as they commenced their journey, " like you, I 
hope, I am bidding a last farewel to yon dreary 
pile." 

Jacintha,in astonishment, repeated these words; 
and Henri informed her that his parents, having 
chosen a situation in life for him not by any means 
consonant to his inclination, he- was quitting them 
for the purpose of avoiding it. 

The interest he had excited in the bosom of 
Jacintha, by his conduct towards her, led her to 
inquire into his intentions respecting his future 
destiny. He explicitly answered her inquires, ap- 
parently pleased with her having made them. 

It was his intention, he said, to endeavour to 
procure a settlement in the East-Indies, where he 
trusted, by his laudable exertions, to obtain that 
happiness, which he had vainly sought in his na 
eeuntry, amongst his own connections'. 



NOCTURNAL VISIT. 25 

Encouraged by the profound attention Jacintha 
paid to what he said, an attention so expressive of 
the interest she felt in his concerns, he proceeded 
to give a little history of himself; and Jacintha 
found he had never been a favourite of his parents, 
and owed whatever felicity he had enjoyed in life, 
to the unfortunate lady who had been confined in 
the chateau. 

Jacintha, without violating the promise she had 
given Josephine, of never divulging what she had 
communicated relative to the unhappy captive, had 
now an opportunity of making such inquiries as 
her strong anxiety about her fate dictated. 

Henri, however, and Jacintha could not doubt 
his assertions, professed himself utterly ignorant 
of the origin of her misfortunes, the means by 
which she had effected her escape, and her destiny 
since it had taken place. 

" At the lime she quitted the chateau, " said he, 
" I was absent from it ; my father having sent me 
upon a visit to his brother in Gascony, a few weeks 
previous to her disappearance. " 

" Ah !" ^bought Jacintha, " you were purposely 
sent out of the way." 

" On my return," continued he, " I was diligent 
in my ^search and inquiries after her, but both were 
unavailing. I cannot, however, divest myself of 
the idea of her death. Peace to her spirit," said 
he, after a momentary pause, " whether an inha- 
bitant of this world or the next ! Whilst memory 
holds her seat within my breast, the gratitude with 
which she has inspired me, can never be obliterated. 
To her, as I have already told you, mademoiselle, 
I am indebted, not only for happiness, whatever I 
experienced at home, but such information, such- 
knowledge, ^s I trust, will enable me to steer through 



26 NOCTURNAL VISIT. 

life with honour. But for her, my mind would 
have been rude and uncultivated as my native 
mountains. Ah, mademoiselle ! how often does 
what we consider a misfortune, turn out a bless- 
ing ! Surely this reflection should render us pa- 
tient under our various trials. The neglect and 
harshness of my parents, which I conceived to be 
so unfortunate a circumstance, was in reality a 
fortunate one for me, since it procured me her 
pity, which, by degrees, ripened into an affection 
that led her to instruct my ignorance." 

u And were your parents pleased at your ac- 
quiring such superior advantages to the rest of their 
children." 

"*By no means ; they wished to have prevented 
it. But disobedience here, I thought no crime ; 
and having accidentally discovered the secret pas- 
sage to her closet, I used it for the purpose of re- 
ceiving her lessons." 

" 'Tis strange," said Jacintha, " that, in the 
course of your conversations, she never dropped 
a hint concerning the cause of her misfortunes. 
The oppressed heart finds relief in venting its com- 
plaints." 

" To her God, alone, she addressed them," re- 
plied Henri. 

The more Jacintha conversed with this young 
man, the more strongly interested she became 
about him. She saw in him one of Nature's own 
children; a mind active, candid, enthusiastic, 
prompt to obey the call of humanity, and regard- 
less of any dangers incurred to benefit others. His 
appearance bespoke his sentiments. His mien was 
lofty, graceful, commanding; and, though the 
down of youth still shaded his cheek, the expression. 



NOCTURNAL VISIT. 37 

of his countenance was bold, intrepid, dnd ani- 
mated. 

But, ardent as was the gratitude of Jacintha, 
the interest which it excited in her bosom for 
him was faint, compared to that which love and 
admiration created in his breast for her. The 
moment he beheld her, his heart paid her ho- 
mage, as one of the most lovely of her sex. He 
utterly discredited the tale told to her disadvan- 
tage; he saw 

" The beauties of her mind 
" Reflected in her face," 

and became confirmed in the resolution he had 
previously conceived, of liberating her from her 
cruel and unjust captivity. How the adventure 
might end, he did not permit himself to think. 

As they journeyed on, he could not avoid drop- 
ping a hint, expressive of curiosity, to learn the 
real cause of her confinement. This, Jacintha 
explicitly declared, she was not at liberty to reveal, 
begging him to believe that the confidence which 
his conduct towards her gave him a right to ex- 
pect, she would not withhold, had she not been 
under a. solemn obligation to do so. 

He informed Jacintha it was his intention to se- 
crete himself near the convent, till there was a 
probability of the pursuit after them being over ; 
and desired tr know whither she meant to pro- 
ceed on quitting it, declaring, not only his readi- 
ness, but determination to attend her, till he had 
left her in a place of safety. 

Jacintha gratefully thanked him for this deter- 
mination, which relieved her mind from many ap- 
prehensions that began to invade it ; and she re- 
joiced to think, through the generosity of Mr. and 
Mrs. Decourcy, she had the means of preventing 



2S NOCTURNAL VISIT. 

him from suffering any pecuniary inconvenience 
by attending her. 

And now the dusky shades of night began to be 
withdrawn, and gradually 

" The dripping rock, the mountain's misty top, 

" Swell on the sight, and brighten with the dawn." 

The travellers soon after entered from a plain 
into the deep recesses of a forest, through which 
they had not proceeded far, when the receding 
trees gave to their view a beautiful glade, covered 
with a smooth and vivid verdure, and ending in a 
gentle acclivity, crowned with the ancient convent 
to which they were repairing. Though discoloured 
by time, a wild and romantic scenery of green 
hills, and intermingled cliffs, tinted with purple 
hues, and disclosing the course of many a wan* 
dering stream, tended to relieve its gloom, and 
create pleasing sensations. 

Nature seemed to have designed this place for 
religious meditation. Here Silence and Solitude 
held their "unmolested reign." The gurgling 
of the w^ater which flowed through the glade, the 
lowing of the cattle that fed upon its margin, the 
rustling of the trees, and the responsive songs of 
the birds, were the only sounds which met the ear; 
and from the eye all prospects was excluded, by the 
thick woods which extended on either side, save 
that of the romantic mountains veiling their aspir-~ 
ing summits in the clouds. 

The tranquillity of the scene was soothing to the 
agitated spirits of Jacintha, and gradually commu- 
nicated itself to her bosom. 

At the entrance of the forest, she and Henri, as 
had previously been agreed on, alighted, and pro- 
ceeded on foot to the convent ; Henri meaning to 
claim admittance for her there, under the pretext 



NOCTURNAL VISIT. 2> 

of the carriage they were travelling in having bro- 
ken down, and consequently disabling them from 
pursuing their journey, till he could get it repaired 
at some one of the neighbouring hamlets. 

He prepared her to answer any questions that 
.might be put to her, and assured her, the moment 
he imagined she might leave her retreat with 
safety, he would come for her, and reconduct her 
towards her native country ; to which (with a sigh, 
he added) he saw she was so impatient to return* 

Jacintha repeated her fervent thanks, attempt- 
ing, as she spoke, to put her pocket-book into his 
hands, with an entreaty for him to consider its 
contents as a mutual stock. This he absolutely 
refused doing, and in a manner too which evidently 
proved his feelings to be hurt by the request, and 
somewhat embarrassed Jacintha; she resolved, 
however, on persisting in her intentions, and re- 
gretted that time, at present, would not admit o£ 
her urging the matter as she wished. 



NOCTURNAL VISIT. 



CHAP. III. 



" Oh ! take this virgin to thy care, 
" Good angels be her guard ! 

" Aiulmay the saints in heaven above, 
" That pious care reward!" 



THE matin bell rung* out as they ap- 
proaehed the convent, and, within a few paces of 
ft, they heard, from the interior of the building, 
the sweet and solemn chanting of female voices, 
accompanied by the deep-toned organ. Jacintha 
involuntarily paused to listen. Never had she 
heard, from any "mortal mixture of earth's mould,' 1, 
such divine, enchanting ravishment as the present 
....never before did music so powerfully affect and 
delight her. The ardour of devotion kindled 
within her heart, her bosom glowed, and, with the 
choral symphonies of the assembled virgins, her 
thoughts ascended to heaven, in praise of him to 
whom all nature, at this early hour, seemed paying 
homage. 

On knocking at the gate, a portress appeared, 
and demanded their business. Henri informed 
her, and she directly left them, without opening 
it, to call a lay- sister, with whom she returned. 
They were now admitted into the court, which 
was surrounded by a high wall, covered with 
aromatic shrubs, glittering with dew, and per- 
fuming the air. The nun conducted them into 



NOCTURNAL VISIT. 3-4 

a small parlour, where she left them ; but returned 
in a few minutes with the lady abbess's permission 
for Jacintha's being lodged in the convent. 

Henri now rose to take his leave, and as soon 
as he had departed, the nun led Jacintha under an 
old u ivy-mantled arch," into an inner court,, 
round which the cloisters were built, surmounted 
by the heavy walls of the edifice, into which va- 
rious small doors from the cloisters opened. 

The morning service was by this time over, and 
Jacintha, as she followed the steps of her guide, 
met several of the nuns passing from the church 
(the li moss-clad spire" of which was eminently 
conspicuous above the rest of the building) to the 
refectory. They examined her with a scrutinizing 
earnestness, which convinced Jacintha that curi- 
osity was not amongst the worldly passions they 
had conquered. Every eye, indeed, seemed at- 
tracted by her appearance ; for, perhaps, 

" Never their holy fane 
" Did fairer maiden grace." 

Through a small door-way, in a remote corner 
of the court, Jacintha was conducted up a narrow 
flight of stone stairs, to a long and dismal gallery, 
near the entrance of which she was shewn into a 
little bed-chamber. Here the nun orlcred to bring 

her some refreshments the refreshment of 

', however, was most needful to Jacintha at 
sht, and she declined taking any thing till she 
had tried to recruit her wearied frame, and still 
more exhausted spirits, by repose. The nun ac- 
cordingly retired, having first shewn her a bell, 
h she desired her to ring when she needed 
her attendance. 



: NOCTURNAL VISIT. 

The sweet consciousness of security, for which 
her heart swelled with gratitude to heaven, soon 
enabled Jacintha to enjoy the repose she required ; 
and she awoke from a sleep of some hours, with 
very different feelings from those she had latterly 
experienced. 

But these feelings were soon damped by reflect- 
ing on the many unpleasant circumstances which 
perhaps awaited her return to Engl and... .by re- 
flecting that, except Egbert had returned to it, 
she had neither friend, nor home, to receive her 
in her native country. 

She did not long, however, indulge the melan- 
choly these reflections inspired, without strug- 
gling against it. She thought it like a doubt of 
the goodness of Providence, the protection of that 
Being, of which she had received so recent an in- 
stance ; and she resolved sedulously to try and 
banish all anticipations of evil, and, by still plac- 
ing her implicit confidence in heaven, endeavour 
to render herself deserving of its care. 

With astonishment she reviewed all she had lately 
gone through. So strange, so romantic appeared 
the late events of her life, that, but for the con- 
vincing proofs she had of the?.r reality, she would 
have been inclined to believe they owed their 
sole existence to a disordered imagination. 

She was too deeply engaged in thought to think 
of ringing for some time after she had risen ; 
when she did, the lay-sister obeyed her summons, 
and led her into an adjoining apartment, where 
she brought her refreshments. This room, like 
the one she had quitted, was furnished with the 
greatest simplicity, and, like it, commanded a view 
of the extensive gardens, laid put in embowered 



NOCTURNAL VISIT. 33 

walks and dark recesses, fit haunts for meditation ; 
and enclosed on every side by high and beetling 
cliffs, apparently insurmountable. 

Jacintha ate her frugal meal alone. By the 
time, she supposed, she had finished it, the nun 
returned, and proposed introducing her into the 
presence of the lady abbess ; a customary ceremony, 
Jacintha understood, for the purpose of returning 
her ladyship thanks for the shelter she afforded. 

Jacintha was rather pleased, than otherwise, at 
the idea of going through this ceremony, as she 
had a curiosity to see every thing, and every one 
belonging to a convent. She accordingly followed 
the nun through several windings and turnings, to 
a spacious parlour, furnished in a style Jacintha 
little expected to have seen in such a building. 
Here the lady abbess sat ; and, if the costly deco- 
rations of her apartment surprised Jacintha, the 
but ill-disguised arrogance and ostentation of her 
manner, still more astonished her ; so unlike 
the meekness and humility, which should have 
characterized a cloistered votaress, whose vow 
extends not only to a renunciation of the pleasures, 
but the pomps and vanities of life. 

Though evidently past her meridian, she still 
retained a large portion of beauty. Her smooth 
brow, proved her to have been a stranger to care ; 
and her unfaded cheek, an equal stranger to rigid 
abstinence. Her dress was so contrived as to set 
off her charms to the best advantage ; her veil 
devolved in graceful folds upon the ground, and 
her robe was bound tight round her waist, to shew 
its symmetry. 

She merely returned the low obeisance of Ja- 
cintha with a slight inclination of her head ; but, 
us soon as she had received from her the acknow- 



34 NOCTURNAL VISIT. 

ledgments she expected, she assumed an air of 
graciousness, more calculated, however, to hum- 
ble than exalt, and motioning for her to advance 
further into the room, began, still however keep- 
ing her standing, to put many interrogatories to 
her ; which Jacintha, but for Henri's precaution, 
in preparing her for them, would have found it 
difficult to reply to. 

Her being a foreigner, neither she nor Henri 
had ever thought of concealing ; and the abbess, 
in consequence of hearing she had never before 
seen the interior of a convent, desired her (in a 
manner evidently intended to prepossess Jacintha 
with favourable sentiments, and persuade her to 
believe that the state she assumed was on account 
of her situation, not from her real disposition) to 
be shewn every thing worthy of observation. 

In pursuance of this command, Jacintha was 
conducted by a nun, whom she found at her eft- 
trance into the parlour, to various parts of the 
building, and to the church, which was rich in 
sculpture and paintings ; but though her curiosity 
was gratified, her mirid was unavoidably saddened 
by the mournful solemnity which presided over 
all she saw, and by beholding so many fellow- 
creatures excluded from the social sweets of life, 
destined to wither in cheerless retirement...." to 
pass away in secret, like the flower of the rock, 
that lifts its fair head unseen, and strews its wi- 
thered leaves on the blast." How the heart of 
man could ever have engendered a superstition so 
dreadful, as to believe the God of mercy and com- 
passion could find pleasure in these human sacri- 
fices, filled her with astonishment and horror, 
and she inwardly shuddered as she surveyed its 
v;ct:nr*« 



NOCTURNAL VISIT. 3$ 

From the church she was led into the gardens, 
where, she was told, she might range at pleasure. 
This information was extremely agreeable, as she 
feared being restricted entirely to the narrow 
limits of the chambers appropriated to her use. 

As she was retracing a long embowered walk, 
which fronted the building, with the nun, who 
had been her conductress to such parts of it as 
she visited, her attention was attracted by a tower, 
which terminated one end, and appeared infinitely 
more ancient than the rest of the edifice. So 
rugged and discoloured indeed were its walls by 
time, that it seemed more like a huge rock, hewn 
into something like an human structure by the 
hand of art, than a structure reared by the hand 
of art itself. That kind of vegetation, which an- 
nounces the decay it hides, grew thick about its 
battlements ; and roind the deep indentures made 
for its grated windows, the long grass whistled 
mournfully to the wind. 

With a shuddering sensation, which she could 
only account for by the idea of cruelty and op- 
pression which it excited in her mind, and for the 
purposes of which it appecired so peculiarly 
.adapted, Jacintha gazed upon this building ; and, 
after a pause of some minutes, asked whether it 
was ever inhabited. 

" Sometimes," replied the nun, in an emphatic 
voice ; and Jacintha thought the pale rose, which 
bloomed upon her cheek, grew paler. 

" What a dismal habitation !" said Jacintha. 

" Dismal indeed," repeated the nun. 

" And is it necessity or choice which causes 
it, at times, to be inhabited ?" inquired Jacintha. 

" Neither," replied the nun, with quickness ; 
and then, evidently from a fear of being led into 



36 NOCTURNAL VISIT. 

some imprudent communication, formed a pretext 
for leaving Jacintha, and withdrew to the convent. 

Her words, or rather manner, conjured up in the 
mind of Jacintha an idea, of this building being 
still used for the purposes for which it seemed 
originally intended. 

" Yet this cannot be the case," thought she, 
after reflecting some minutes ; " for punishment 
is seldom inflicted without some cause, -real or 
imaginary ; and what cause can be given for its 
infliction here, where there is no temptation to 
swerve from the most rigid virtue ?" 

Again she reflected, and suddenly it occurred to 
her, that perhaps some of the holy sisters might 
have been unwilling victims, and doomed to suf- 
fer for their murmurs, by a solitary confinement 
within the decaying tower. This thought had 
scarcely occurred, ere she became confirmed in 
thinking she was right in her conjecture ; and she 
involuntarily turned, with mingled indignation and 
horror, from the spot, congratulating herself on 
being the inhabitant of a country, alike equitable 
and mild in its religion and its laws. 

Anxious to avoid the sight of a building, where, 
as she imagined, misery moaned, and ]>oor mis- 
fortune felt the lash of tyranny, she wandered away 
to a remote part of the garden, where, finding a 
stone bench near the entrance of an arbour, she 
seated herself, and endeavoured to divert the un- 
pleasant thoughts that had arisen in her mind, by 
perusing a little book of poetry which she found 
in her bundle, and which, as the gift of Egbert, 
had been her constant companion in her confine- 
ment. The following poem, however, at which she 
opened, was not calculated to produce the effect 
she desired.**..* 



NOCTURNAL VISIT- St 

THE flocks, extended on the mountains, lay ; 

The feather'd songsters ceas'd their cheerful strains ; 
The herds no longer round the meadows stray, 

And solemn silence reigns throughout the plains. 

The rising moon diffus'd a silv'ry gleam, 

And glitt'ring stars their friendly glories join'd ; 

A time reflection aids religion's theme, 

And pensive cares increase upon the mind. 

'Twas then young Edward took his pensive w r ay, 
The still church-yard, with trembling step and slow; 

Where his lov'd Phillis moulder'd into clay, 
He sought, distracted with excess of woe. 

The turf, new rais'd, seem'd willing to declare 

Where, deep in earth, the beauteous maid reclin'd ; 

He saw, quick started forth the sudden tear, 
And thus his words betray 'd his tortur'd mind 

41 See where, regardless of this silent tear, 
U The lovely Phillis sleeps in soft repose; 

" Ah ! what avail my anguish, my despair, 
" She sleeps, unconscious of my dreadful woes ! 

" Ah ! why did Keav'n so fair a form bestow? 

" Why was she bless'd with more than mortal charms ? 
" To serve, alas ! but to augment my woe, 

" And add new horrors to my widow 'd arms ! 

" Her face was lovely as the op'ning day ; 

11 Sweet was her breath as autumn's rich perfume ; 
44 Her voice, melodious as the linnet's lay ; 

•' Her cheeks outvied the rose's brightest bloom. 

• 4 So the young bud bedecks the virgin thorn, 
" Whilst deep within a venom'd canker lies, 

44 With fragrance sweet, salutes the rising morn, 
il Ere night, alas ! untimely blasted, lies ! 

" Some goddess^ envying her superior charms, 
41 Some god, repining at my happier fate, 

" With jealous fury snatch 'd her from my arms, 
*' And frantic urg'd th' unwilling hand of Fate. 



38 NOCTURNAL VISIT. 

" Slow on her frame a ling'ring sickness seiz'd, 
" O'er her weak limbs a deadly paleness spread, 

" Her eyes no more their sprightly fire display'd, 
" And from her check the gay vermilion fled. 

" Sudden, alas! would flattering hopes arise, 

" And long-lost Health seem blooming o'er her facej 

" But, ha! too soon the fond delusion flies, 
" And to Despair, reluctant yields her place. 

" Faint, weary, pale, she bow'd her languid head, 
f* Unequal Nature yielding to the strife ; 

41 Calm, by degrees, she sunk amongst the dead, 
** And, Sweetly smiling, languish 'd into life! 

" Adieu, ye lawns! adieu, ye flow'ry meads ! 

" Ye groves, ye partners of our love, adieu! 
* l Fhillis no more your painted carpet treads, 

" No more her eyes your varied prospects view. 

" Welcome the silence of the midnight hour, 

" This solemn scene, this glimm'ring ray of light; 

" My soul, deprest by Fate's relentless pow'r, 
" Enjoys this hour with a sad delight. 

" Oh! would kind Heaven indulge my ardent pray'r, 
*' Life, hated life, with transport I'd resign; 

" Glad, in the grave, I'd lose my torturing care, 
" Whom death has parted, death alone can join ! " 

" Ah!" cried Jacintha, " how agonizing to weep 
over the grave of thGse we love ; yet, how much 
more agonizing, M and her thoughts reverted to the 
tower, " to know the object of our tenderest affec- 
tion survives, but to experience the horrors of con- 
finement and despair!" 

Wrapped in pensive meditations, she remained 
in the garden long after the bell for vespers had 
tolled, regardless of the dusky hue which gradu- 
ally stole upon the blue expanse, and veiled the 
beauties of the surrounding scenery. 



NOCTURNAL VISIT. 39 

At length a nun approached, to inform her the 
gates of the convent were about being closed for 
the night. Jacintha immediately quitted her 
sequestered seat, and followed her to the cloisters, 
where the nun, who had heretofore been her at- 
tendant, met and conducted her to her chamber; 
in which she continued with her till she had sup- 
ped. On being left alone, Jacintha soon sought 
to obtain, in sleep, a refuge from the gloomy ideas 
which oppressed her; sleep, however, could not 
dissipate them, and the wild and terrific dreams to 
which they gave rise, harassed her spirits, and 
made her forsake her couch at the first dawn of 
day. 

Breakfast, like her other meals, was served in 
the adjoining apartment, and she found, that all 
society, or even converse with the nuns, except it 
was accidental, was prohibited. She did not re- 
visit the garden till she saw they had quitted it to 
attend their mid-day devotions ; she then repair- 
ed to it. 

Again her eyes involuntarily rested on the black 
tower, and she paused to re-examine its massy 
structure, vainly wishing for power to penetrate 
within its dark recesses, and relieve the wretched- 
ness which, perhaps, pined within it. Whilst thus 
she stood, in a melancholy and contemplative 
attitude, before it, to her inexpressible astonish- 
ment she suddenly beheld a white handkerchief 
suspended through the iron bars of a small window, 
a few yards above the ground. 

Though prepossessed with the idea of its being 
at this time inhabited, Jacintha started at this 
moment as if she had seen something supernatural, 
and remained immoveable till she beheld the hand- 
kerchief waving, as if to invite her approach. Almost 



40 NOCTURNAL VISIT. 

instinctively she then stepped forward, but again 
stopped on observing the handkerchief withdrawn ; 
in the next instant, however, she perceived a hand 
pushing a folded paper through the bars, which fell 
upon the ground. 

. That this was designed for her, Jacintha could 
not doubt ; and having glanced about, to see whether 
she was observed, she darted to the spot, and catch- 
ing up the paper, directly concealed it in her bosom ; 
thenhastening to another part of the garden, though 
with trembling limbs, and a heart that fluttered as 
if it would burst from her bosom, she took a few turns, 
and returned to her chamber, without meeting 
any of the nuns. The moment she regained it, 
she drew forth the paper, which appeared to be a 
leaf torn from a pocket-book, and read the following 
lines, pencilled in English 

" If your countenance be the index of your mind, 
you will compassionate the misery of an unfortu- 
nate fellow-creature and country-woman, trea- 
cherously separated from all she loves on earth, 
and cruelly doomed to linger out the residue of her 
days in this solitary convent. 

"Oh, stranger! this doom may, through your 
means, be reversed, if you will give me an oppor- 
tunity of acquainting you with such particulars of 
my sad story, as may enable you to inform my 
friends in Britain of my situation ; but this op- 
portunity can only be granted, by your visiting the 
place of my confinement. To do this, you may 
perhaps be unwilling, from an apprehension of 
danger ; but no danger can be incurred by such a 
measure, since there is no probability of its being 
discovered. The gallery in which you lodge, is 
remote from the one occupied by the nuns, being 



NOCTURNAL VISIT. 41 

entirely appropriated to the use of any wandering 
strangers who may require the shelter of this 
convent. It terminates in a small door, which 
opens upon a narrow flight of stairs that descend 
into the church ; and exactly opposite the foot of 
these stairs is another door, which leads into the 
tower where I am confined, but so artfully contriv- 
ed, as not to appear to casual observation, what it 
really is ; you will know it, however, by a frame 
of wood-work which surrounds it, and into which, 
on the right side, the bolt that secures it, projects. 
At the hour of one, when all the convent is likely 
to be wrapped in repose, you may safely visit me. 
Oh, do not determine against coming, I conjure 
you ! Oh, do not refuse realizing the hope your 
appearance excited ! So may Heaven bless and 
prosper you, and peace and happiness go with you, 
hand in hand, through life !" 

The feelings of Jacintha's mind, on perusing 
these lines, can better be conceived than describ- 
ed : surprise, pity, and apprehension, all took their 
turn to reign, and for some time she was irresolute 
how to act. Humanity at length ended this irre- 
solution, by determining her to visit the wretched 
captive; yet, at the very moment she formed this 
determination, her heart sunk within her, at the 
idea of (she believed) the perilous undertaking. 
She endeavoured, however, to revive its courage, 
by reflecting on the very little probability there 
was of any of the inhabitants of the convent being 
up at the hour appointed for the visit, and conse- 
quently the little risk she should run, of encounter- 
ing danger by it. ~ • 

" And surely any pain attendant on the appre- 
hension of danger, must be trifling," she cried, 
"compared to that which I should "feel, if I per- 



42 NOCTURNAL VtSIT. 

mitted selfish considerations to render me regard- 
less of the supplications of misery, and thought a 
fellow-creature groaned in captivity whom I mighty 
by an exertion of courage, have been instrumen- 
tal to delivering from it ; such a thought would 
forever destroy my happiness. Oh God ! what 
an ungrateful return should I make for the restora- 
tion of my liberty, if I refused trying to restore to 
another a similar blessing ! Yes, unhappy woman ! 
I will, on thy account, endeavour to overcome all 
apprehensions, and act to thee as, a few short days 
ago, I should have wished, have prayed some, 
friendly mortal to have acted towards myself." 

" Good heaven !" exclaimed she, after the pause 
of a few minutes, " should this be the unfortunate 
lady who was so long confined within the castle ! 
Ah! if it should be her, indeed, how will the glow- 
ing heart of her pupil rejoice, when he hears his 
kind instructress lives.. ..lives in expectation of be- 
ing restored to freedom I" 

The pleasing images which this idea gave to 
the mind of Jacintha, tranquillized it, and she al- 
most felt impatient for the hour which Was to in- 
troduce her to the captive. 

She remained in the apartments assigned to her 
the remainder of the day, without seeing any per- 
son except the attending nun, who, as usual, 
trough! her solitary meals, and a lamp at night. 






NOCTURNAL VISIT. 43 



CHAP* IV. 



" All hope of succour but from thee, is past !'• 



WlTH darkness the fears of Jacintha again 
returned ; and, as she shut herself up in her little 
cell, she involuntarily began to f amiijate\ on the 
dreadful situation in which she would, in all pro- 
bability, be involved, should the enterprize she 
meditated, be discovered. Before the review of 
this situation, her resolution began to waver ; yet, 
when she reflected on the very little likelihood 
there was, of the discovery she dreaded taking 
place, and, above all, on the wretchedness she 
should experience, if she could reproach herself 
with having refused trying to serve a suffering 
fellow-creature, she once more determined on per- 
severing in her charitable intentions. 

With a fluttering heart she heard the bell for 
midnight prayers ; with a still more agitated heart 
she heard the deep-toned clock striking the hour 
of one. When its solemn reverberation was over, 
she rose, and going to the door, softly opened it, 
and stepped into the gallery to listen. She scarce- 
ly breathed, from Iter strong anxiety to try and 
ascertain whether there was any one up in the 
convent; she soon, however, had reason to believe 



44 NOCTURNAL VISIT. 

all its inhabitants were wrapped in repose, for 

" Nor eye, nor listening ear, an object found." 

Silence and Darkness, solemn sisters twain, 
seemed now to reign within the building. 

Jacintha returned into the chamber for her 
lamp, and again stepped forth. She had not pro-.« 
eeeded many yards, however, when she 

" Back re coil' J, 
" Even at the sound herself had made." 

Shuddering, she stood immoveable for some mi- 
nutes ; re-assured, then, by finding her fancy had 
deceived her, and that it was the echo alone of her 
own steps which, " had pierced the fearful hollow 
of her ear ;" she again moved onwards, nor paused 
till she came to the door that terminated the gal- 
lery. Here she lingered a short time, scarcely 
able to prevail upon herself to descend the stairs, 
which seemed to terminate in impenetrable gloom. 
At last she ventured forward, clinging to the 
banisters, and trembling lest the wind, which 
came in sudden gusts from the sides, should ex- 
tinguish her lamp. A pale twilight gleamed 
through the windows of the church, much more 
calculated to affect the imagination, than the pro- 
found darkness of the gallery. 

Oppressed with terrors she had never before 
experienced, Jacintha advanced from the foot of 
the stairs, starting, and often pausing to look 
back, as the lonely aisles echoed her steps and al- 
most made her imagine she was followed. 

With difficulty her trembling hands enabled her 
to unbolt the door leading into the tower, and 
which disclosed to her view a small hall terminated 
by a narrow flight of stairs j these stairs she be- 



NOCTURNAL VISIT. 45 

ran to ascend in the utmost trepidation, chilled 
to the very 'heart, not more by apprehension, than 
the cold and "dampness of the place. Scarcely 
had she gained the top, ere a wild scream burst 
upon her ear, and a female figure rushed from an 
opposite apartment, and fell, trembling, at her 
feet. 

The variety of emotions which assailed the 
heart of Jacintha, rendered her for some minutes 
unable to speak or move ; then recollecting her 
perilous situation, she tried to exert herself, and 
setting the lamp upon the ground, endeavoured 
to raise the prostrate stranger. Her efforts soon 
succeeded. The unhappy captive, by her assist- 
ance, slowly rose, and discovered to her view a 
countenance which, notwithstanding the too visi- 
ble ravages of time, sorrow, and sickness, still 
retained the most interesting expression, and a 
faint vestige of primeval beauty. 

She gazed a few r minutes in silence upon Jacin- 
tha ; then withdrawing from her support, she 
took' up the lamp, and led the way into the apart- 
ment from whence she had come. Jacintha shud- 
dered on entering it, at the idea of a human crea- 
ture being the inmate of such a place. The rug- 
ged walls were covered with green and slimy 
damps, and its only furniture was a wretched pal- 
let, stretched upon a wooden bedstead ; to this the 
captive feebly moved, and seating herself upon it, 
she burst into tears : Jacintha followed, and en- 
deavoured to sooth her. 

"Kind stranger," said she, laying her 'ema- 
ciated hand upon Jacintha' s arm as she spokeV' 
" be not distressed at beholding these tears ; they 
are tears of joy. ...such as I have not, for a long, 
long period shed, at the prospect that now dawns 
p 2 



46 NOCTURNAL VISIT. 

upon me, of my deliverance. Say, blessed crea- 
ture, say, will you indeed exert yourself in my 
behalf?" 

" Would to heaven I could flatter myself that 
my power to serve you was equal to my inclina- 
tion," replied Jacintha. 

" My feelings were prophetic on beholding 
you," said the stranger. Something seemed to 
whisper my heart, that you were thrown in my 
way by Providence ; and joy thrilled through my 
frame when I heard you were my country-wo- 
man." 

" Heard!" repeated Jacintha, in extreme sur- 
prise. 

" Yes ; I met you in the cloisters, as I was re- 
turning from the matin service. Attracted by 
your appearance, I inquired of a nun concerning 
you. But the pleasure her information gave, was 
soon clamped by the abbess's arbitrary command 
to have me confined in this tower till you had left 
the convent, lest I should be tempted to disclose 
to you my unhappy story, and, through your means, 
obtain an opportunity of acquainting my friends 
with my situation. That I have been able to 
obtain this opportunity, I bend in gratitude to 
heaven." 

More affrighted than ever, by hearing of the 
precaution which was used for keeping the cap- 
tive and her story from her knowledge, as it 
tended to prove the dangerous consequences that 
1 result from its being known that she had 
overed either, Jacintha earnestly importuned 
her to be brief in explaining how she could serve 
her ; informing her, at the same time, that she was 
about returning to England. 



NOCTURNAL VISIT. 47 

" The service I require," she replied, " is to 
acquaint my friends with my situation." 

" But where," demanded Jacintha, somewhat 
impatiently, " are those friends to be found?" 

" Where," repeated she, with a kind of shud- 
dering horror, as if a fearful thought had that mo- 
ment started in her mind. " Alas I" cried she, 
whilst tears again burst from her eyes, " perhaps 
those dear friends, the hope of whose existence 
rendered liberty so desirable, are now no more." 

" Dear lady," said Jacintha, " hope the best." 

She sighed, looked up to heaven, and, after a 
momentary pause, thus proceeded. 

" The family from whom I am descended, is a 
Scotch one, of the name of Nairn.... A letter can 
scarcely fail of finding some one belonging to it, 
in its ancient neighbourhood, Inverness ; and if 
the letter falls into the hands of even the most dis- 
tant of my relatives, I am convinced I shall be 
redressed." 

" And by what name am I to mention you ?" 
asked Jacintha. 

" The earl of Endermay is my husband. The 
most perfidious arts were practised to make him 
imagine me false to the vow I had plighted to him, 
and impose upon my friends a belief of my death. 
Within the solitary walls of this convent, I have ' 
passed years of lingering misery, secluded from 
all that could render life desirable, and kept in 
ignorance of the fate of those I loved.. ..an igno- 
rance productive of greater torture than any- 
other circumstance. Oh God ! how agonizing is 
incertitude about those we regard.. ..how agoniz- 
ing to the fond heart of a mother, to be denied the 
knowledge of her offspring's fate ! A thousand 
times have I implored the barbarians who con- 



48 NOCTURNAL VISIT* 

fined me, to let me knew whether my infant, 
whom they so cruelly snatched from my arms, ere 
her sweet eyes had well opened upon the light, 
was in existence, but in vain." 

" Then surely," said Jacintha, " you may con- 
clude she still lives ; for, it is not natural to sup- 
pose, that those who so cruelly confined you, 
would keep from your knowledge any event tnat 
could cause you additional pain." 

" Except convinced," replied the unhappy couri- 
. " that, the tortures of suspence exceed those 
which any certainty could inflict." 

" Your suspence, your sufferings, wijl soon, I 
trust, be happily terminated," said Jacintha. 
" Depend upon my seal. Amongst the hours of 
my life which I shall wish to remember, are those 
that gave me an opportunity of serving you." 

Lady Endermay caught her hand, and pressed 
it to her lips. 

" Say," cried she, gazing upon her, " who you 
are....whence you come ? As you are, my dreams 
have represented my daughter to be. Such the 
benignant expression of her eyes.. ..such that look 
of sweetness which sinks upon the heart." 

" Under happier auspices than the present, I 
trust, dear lady," replied Jacintha, "I shall have 
an opportunity of telling you who I am. Of this, 
however, let me assure you, that the self-expe- 
rience of sorrow has taught me to feel acutely for 
the woes of others. 

" May sorrow henceforth be a stranger to your 
heart!" said lady Endermay. " May your future 
destiny be mild as your looks ! May the comfort 
you have given to her,, who was ready to perish, 
never be needed by you ! May gladness uieonipass 
your steps, and these whom you love requite your 



NOCTURNAL VISIT. 4$ 

tenderness ! Oh God !" she continued, with up- 
lifted hands, " hear my wishes !" 

The tenderness and fervour of her expressions 
affected Jacintha beyond description. She could 
not restrain her tears. ...her heart melted within 
her, as if at this moment she had been receiving 
the blessing of a long-lost mother, and she could 
not forbear reflecting on the different reception 
she should have met with from lady Endermay) 
had she been her parent, to that which she had ex- 
perienced from lady Dunsane. 

In a few minutes her emotions subsided, and 
permitted her to inquire of lady Endermay, whe- 
ther she had ever been confined in any other place 
than the convent. Lady Endermay replied in the 
negative, and thus proved to Jacintha, what indeed 
she had before suspected, that she was mistaken 
in imagining her to be the lady who was impri- 
soned in the chateau. 

Having received a more particular direction to 
her ladyship's friends than she had before, and re- 
peated her promise of losing no time in writing to 
them, she bade her farewel. 

At this moment lady Endermay started up, and 
grasped Jacintha's hands. 

" Remember your promise," she exclaimed. 
" Remember you have created a hope in my heart, 
which, if disappointed, will break it ! I know the 
time at which, if you keep your word, I may ex- 
pect my deliverance. If that time passes away 
without effecting it, I can no longer support the 

burden of existence and you," she proceeded, 

whilst her eyes assumed a wildness of expression 
which terrified Jacintha, " yes, you will be acces- 
sary to sinking me to my grave.. ..and you, like 
my inhuman persecutors, my accusing spirit will 
haunt, to reproach you for your deceit 1" 



H NOCTURNAL VISIT. 

" Dear lady, be composed," said Jacinth a, 
" and rely upon my assurances. Let my braving 
the consequences which scarcely fail of resulting 
from my visit to you being discovered, prove to 
you whether or not I am sincere in ray wishes to 
serve you." 

" Ah ! how couid I doubt your sincerity after 
such a proof!" cried lady Endermay, as if sud- 
denly recollecting herself. " Excuse my doing so 
..♦.the unhappy are ever fearful." 

" Adieu, dear lady ! said Jacintha, kissing her 
hand. " All that indefatigable zeal can do to has- 
ten your deliverance, shall be done." 

Then taking up the lamp, she hastened from 
the room, followed by lady Endermay to the top 
of the stairs. On gaining the bottom, Jacintha 
looked up, waved her hand, and laid it for a mo- 
ment in expressive silence upon her heart ; then 
advancing to the door which opened into the 
church, she gently pushed it open, and as gently 
closed it. 

As she was moving from it, she accidentally 
glanced upon the railing of a small adjoining cha- 
pel, between which, with a horror that instantly 
rivetted her to the spot, she beheld a ghastly coun- 
tenance earnestly regarding her. From this ter- 
rific apparition Jacintha had not power to with- 
draw her eyes ; in a few minutes, however, it gra- 
dually disappeared, and she recovered sufficiently 
from the shock it had given her, to be able to move 
towards the opposite stairs. But ere she had pro- 
ceeded many paces, the rustling of drapery made 
her instinctively look back, and she beheld a tall 
figure, whose habiliments seemed much better 
suited for an inhabitant of the grave, than for an in- 
habitant of this world, following her. 



NOCTURNAL VISIT. $ I 

Her faculties again became suspended, the lamp 
dropped ft cm her hand, anu sinking on her knees, 
she extender her arms in a supplicatory attitude. 
The figure approached, and at length, in a voice 
which burst like thunder upon the ears of Jacin- 
tha, who immediately recollected it to be the 
voice of the nun who had shewn her the convent, 
exclaimed 

" Stranger, you will dearly pay for this teme- 
rity. Be assured there will be a severe scrutiny 
into this mysterious business. " 

The chilling fear which, but a moment before, 
had awed the heart of Jacintha, and scarcely per- 
mitted her to breathe, now gave way to appre- 
hensions that caused it to throb with the utmost 
violence. The consequences which she had 
dreaded from engaging in her late enterprize, 
seemed now ready to overwhelm her ; and, una- 
ble to speak or move, she remained upon her 
knees some minutes, looking up in the face of 
the nun, as if she expected to have heard from 
her lips, her doom pronounced. 

The nun at length, in an austere voice, desired 
her to rise. Jacintha, instead of obeying this 
command, suddenly clasped her arms about her, 
and implored her to forgive an action prompted 
alone by humanity. 

" 'Tis not to me," said the nun, in a haughty 
and repulsive tone, " to whom you are to address 
your supplications. I am not the person who is 
to decide upon your conduct." 

" But you are the only person acquainted with 
it," cried Jacintha; " and except you please, it 
need not transpire." 

M And do you suppose I do not mean it shall?" 
Tcpliei she. " Do you imagine you can prevail 



52 NOCTURNAL VISIT. 

upon me to become the accomplice of deceit ? 
which I should consider myself, if I concealed 
the late transaction. " No ; if you have had the 
presumption to think so, you have been as much 
mistaken in that idea, as in believing your rash 
undertaking would either escape detection, or pu- 
nishment." 

So saying, she burst from the grasp of Jacin- 
tha, and again commanded her, with increased 
haughtiness, to rise. 

This indignant treatment roused the spirit of 
Jacintha, and starting on her feet, she hastily 
ascended the stairs, followed by the nun ; who, 
in her eager anxiety to acquaint the abbess with 
what she had seen, utterly forgot the penance 
she was doing at the time she beheld Jacintha. 

Ere Jacintha had reached her chamber, the 
courage which resentful pride inspired, sunk be- 
neath the dreadful apprehensions which oppressed 
her. She doubted not having provoked a most 
rigorous punishment : a punishment against which 
she could make no resistance. She paused. ..she 
looked back on the nun ; but the unrelenting se- 
verity which marked her countenance, checked 
the supplication that was ready to burst from the 
lips of Jacintha ; and tottering into the chamber, 
she threw herself upon the bed, almost suffocated 
by her emotions. 

The nun remained some time in silence at the 
door ; then advancing into the room, she ap- 
proached the bed, and laying her hand upon Ja- 
cintha's arm, told her in a softened voice, she 
might perhaps be induced to keep the secret she 
wished her to conceal, if she candidly confessed 
every thing relative to her visit to the tower. 
This confession, she assured her, she did not 



NOCTURNAL VISIT. 5 3 

require for the gratification of her curiosity (as 
was already satisfied by having overheard 
the whole conversation between her and the cap- 
tive, in consequence of being in the church at 
the time she entered it, and following her into the 
tower) ; but merely to prove, whether she 'was 
sufficiently sincere and honourable to be worthy 
of consideration and forbearance. 

Jacintha could not doubt the truth of this latter 
assertion, which was uttered with the utmost 
solemnity ; and starting from the bed, she can- , 
didly revealed all that had passed between her 
and lady Endermay ; fully removing the suspi- 
cion, she found, by the further interrogatories of 
the nun, was entertained, of her having been in- 
troduced into the convent, for the purpose of 
trying to obtain an opportunity of conversing with 
the countess. 

The moment she had concluded her narrative, 
the nun abruptly quitted the room, and locking 
the door after her, left Jacintha to experience all 
the violent emotions that alternate hope and fear 
could inspire. 

Two hours elapsed before she returned. She 
then entered the room! as abruptly as she had 
quitted it, and informed the almost fainting Ja- 
cintha, that her friend was come to take her from 
the convent. 

Terror and weakness vanished before the joy 
these tidings imparted ; and, with an exclamation 
expressive of her rapture, Jacintha immediately 
began to prepare for her departure, not without 
wondering ?,t her escape from the examination, 
but still more, the punishment she had dreaded. 
In her self-congratulations, however, upon this 



54 NC/CTUHNAL VISIT. 

supposed escape, she soon found she was too pre- 
' mature. 

" Though your friend is come, you cannot go 
to him," said the nun, fastening the door, and 
advancing towards her. 

u Not go to him i" repeated Jacintha, looking 
wijdly; and dropping her pe-isse, which she had 
just snatched from a chair, a not go to him !" 

" No ; never miist you hope to rejoin him.... 
never must you hope to pass these walls, except 
you promise inviolahle secrecy relative to the 
discovery you made within them." 

Jacintha shuddered on hearing a determination 
which, if persevered in, doomed the unfortunate 
lady Endermay to contii ued misery ; she tried, 
however, to conceal the shock it gave her, and, 
as assumed calmness, saidc... 
" 'Tis not your own ignorance, I am convin- 
1$ of the consequences which could not fail of 
■ king from the unlawful detention of a British 
your supposition of mine, that has 
•red you to hold out such a threat to me, 
h, I must now inform you, I well knew you 
• not put into execution." 
w Could-not !" repeated the nun, with a dis- 
;' J glance ; " be not too certain. -Who is to 
wof your unjust detention ? How easily could 
a story be invented to impose upon your friends?" 
,.l again shuddered. She saw she was 
completely entangled in a snare, from which she 
cd she couid never extricate herself, but by 
submitting to the conditions prescribed. Nothing 
1 1 of absolute necessity, however, she deter- 
mined, should make her give up the cause oflady 
En derm ay. 



NOCTURNAL VISIT. 55 

u Listen to me," resumed 'the nun, fnbEoiftii 
for her to take a chair, and seating herself by 
her. "The compassion excited by your v 
and inexperience, has led me to conceal from 
the abbess the indiscretion you have been guilty 
ci; thoroughly convinced, that -a as she to knmv 
h, she would punish it in the most rigorous da 
ner, in all probability, by the utter deprivation of 
liberty ; but, though inclined to screen yen frmi 
her resentment, I cannot think of exposing va\ 
to it on your account, which must be the case if 
I suffer you to quit the convent without t . 
me the vow I require." 

ii Why must it be the case r" asked Jacinth;:. 

u Because the disclosure you would then u. 
self at liberty to reveal, would scon reach 
ears of the abbess, and discover to her my ha; 
concealed your visit to the tower-.; which, it must 
be known, you could not have made without my 
;;e, having passed the two nights you 
were in the convent within the church, at penance. 
< a circumstance would inevitably draw is 
race that nothing, perhaps, but 
-most dreadful sufferings on ' 

....sufferings' which, be ass 
risk of encountering. If you, therefore^ n 
in withholding the promise I desire, I will no lon- 
ger hesitate acquainting the abbess with \ 
conduct. If I do, mark fny word: ....vo.; • 
repent having compelled s:c to the measure. 
As a further inducement to your acting in 
manner I wish.. ..heaven . knows, fov your \ 
sake. ..I know that you have been imposed upon 
by a fabricated story. The person with whom \ ou 
conversed in the tower, is not the person she 
tes you to believe ; if she was, these holy walls 



3 6 NOCTURNAL VISIT. 

would never have been her prison. It is her own 
artifices, and not the artiiices of others, which 
have caused her to be confined within them ; an 
early deviation from propriety cam 

ids tp c'jprive' pro£a liberty :wKi< •' e 

Jacintha itttt ^credited this assertion* and 

endeavoured, by all the address she was mistress 
of, to avoid binding herself to secrecy relative to 
lady Endermay. 

" I will no longer argue with you," said the 
min, rising from her chair as she spoke ; a abide 
the consequences which you seem to brave." 

These, consequences were too appalling to the 
imagination of Jacintha, not. to make her earnest- 
ly solicitous to avoid encountering them. She 
hastily followed the nun, and caught her arm. 

u What is your decision?" demanded the nun, 
pausing, and looking earnestly at her. 

Jacintha made no reply, and by her manner 
betrayed the highest irresolution. 

" Again I solemnly assure you/' said the nun, 
" you never can pass these walls unless you take 
the vow I require. I wish to save you from suf- 
fering ; but I cannot sacrifice my own safety to 
that wish." 

" There is then no alternative," cried Jacintha, 
who had not a doubt that loss of liberty would 
follow the abbess's knowledge of her conduct ; 
" there is then no alternative," she inwardly ex- 
claimed, " between involving myself in irremedi- 
able evils, or consigning a fellow-creature to 
lingering misery. Oh God ! " she continued, with 
uplifted eyes, u thou who seest my reluctance to 
give up the cause I undertook.. .thou who seest 
me compelled to a breach of humanity. ..do thou, 



NOCTURNAL VISIT. 57 

merciful and gracious Being, alleviate thai \vi -t\ 
edness to which all human consolation. ..all human 
.succour, is denied I" 

Pale and trembling, she then took a &tci 
oath never to disclose any particular relative to 
lady Endermay ; but scarcely had it passed 
lips, ere her countenance assumed a death] 
hue, and she fell, almost fainting, upon the bosom 
of the nun, overpowered by the idea of the mi- 
sery to which disappointed hope would condemn 
the unhappy woman. The nun supported her to 
a window ; the cool air soon revived s her, and a 
Hood of tears in some degree lightened the op- 
pression of her heart. As soon as her emotions 
had a little subsided, she prepared for her de- 
parture, assisted by the nun. 

At the head of the stairs she was met by a lav- 
sister, who conducted her to the parlour, v 
Henri impatiently waited for her. His byes 
sparkled, his cheeks glowed, at her approach ; 
but his pleasure soon vanished before the dejec- 
tion so visible in her looks; into the cause of 
which, it was evident, a fear of offending, ali 
prevented him from inquiring. 

Jacintha was too much occupied by the idea 
of ia.dy Endermay, to be able to enter into con- 
versation with Henri, even after she had left the 
convent. After addressing a few broken and 
disjointed sentences to him, she sunk into a gloo- 
my reverie, and began to question her heart whe- 
ther a vow, taken under such circumstances as 
hers...a vow, which doomed innocence and virtue 
still to suffer beneath, artifice and oppression, 
ought not to be broken. But when she reflected 
upon its solemnity. ...when she reflected that, if 
iolation restored one innocent person to hap* 
0^2 



58 NOCTURNAL VISIT. 

piness, it would condemn another to misery 
so the nun had assured her), she shrunk from the 
idea, and, with a flood of tears, resigned the un- 
fortunate lady Endermay to her fate. 

Henri's looks declared his surprise at her 
emotion ; and Jacintha recollecting herself, and 
naturally concluding he might suppose she had 
some new cause for melancholy, and feel offend- 
ed if she did not reveal it, endeavoured to rally 
■ spirits. 

The mules were stationed at the entrance of 
the forest, and they immediately recommenced 
their journey. Travelling through the less fre- 
quented ways, lest they should encounter those 
whom they wished to avoid, about sunset they 
reached a small village at the foot of the Pyre- 
nees, where they stopped for the night. 

By an early hour the next morning, Henri, ac- 
cording to the request of Jacintha, had a chaise 
;-.' inn-door for her, in which, accompanied 
by him, she commenced her journey to Calais. 
And now, as she began to retrace the road she 
had travelled with lord Gwytherin, the severe 
'lings she had experienced in consequence of 
3 j imd the cruelty of her mother, 
upon her mind, expelling from it every 
other idea than that of the inhumanity of her 
:ts...an idea so agonizing, so dreadful, I 

i to prevent herself from dwelling on it. 

; ivri's conversation she sought to find a 

refuge bom her oppressive thoughts. Mild, mo- 

estj and respectful, he every moment gai 
upop her esteem and admiration, and she could 
icdly persuade herself that he was the son of 
rude and illiterate peasants to whose care she 
been consigned. 



NOCTURNAL VISIT. 69 

ry travelled with the utmost caution and 
privacy, ■ a journey of some days, reach- 

ed Calais. A sudden joy pervaded the bosom of 
Jacintha, as she cast her eyes upon the waves 
which were to transport her hack to that king- 
dom, where she expected to find that truth, that 
tenderness, which a vain expectation of meeting 
elsewhere, had induced her to quit. 

It was now upwards of a year since Egbert'had 
left England, and, by this time, she flattered her- 
self he was returned. She pictured to herself 
the raptures which would attend their meeting; 
when, perhaps, after his suffering all the tortures 
of ignorance and suspense about her, she appear- 
ed unexpectedly before him. 

" Oh !" she exclaimed to herself, as her heart 
glowed at these anticipations of her fancy, " that 
moment, that blessed moment, will compensate 
for all my sufferings- 1" 

The feelings of Hetiiij on arriving at Calais, 
were very different from hers; and his dejection, 
Which had gradually increased as they approach- 
ed the termination of tl c r ;-un>cy, confirmed a 
suspicion, which the language of his eyes had for 
some time before infused into her bosom. ...a sus- 
picion which mad< xious for a separation 
as soon as possible. 

They reached Calais early in the day, and Ja- 
cintha had scarcely alighted from the chaise, ere 
she inquired about a packet ; and, to her extreme 
satisfaction, heard one was to sail in the after- 
noon, in which she immediately engaged a pas- 
sage. 

Her ardent gratitude made her deeply regret 
lot having the power of making any adequate 
return for the services of Henri ; without which, 



60 NOCTURNAL VISIT. 

she had every reason to believe, at this moment, 
she should have been a solitary exile from all she 
loved on earth. 

In the course of the day, after a melancholy 
silence of some minutes, he entreated to be fa- 
voured with her address; that, if ever be visited 
happy England (so he styled it) he might be able 
to inquire into her destiny. 

After a little consideration, Jacintha gave him 
an address to Mr. Decourcy's agent ; assuring 
him, at the same time, it would ever afford her 
sincere happiness to hear of his welfare. 

When the moment for parting arrived, the 
emotions of Henri became too violent to be con- 
cealed ; Jacintha, however, though secretly af- 
fected, did not seem to notice them. 

" Farewel 1" cried she, extending her hand, 
which he tremblingly clasped between his, as 
she rose to obey a summons to the pier ; " with 
this farewel, receive my most fervent wishes for 
,your happiness. May the hopes, the expecta- 
tions with which you are commencing your career 
in life, never be disappointed ! May you meet 
from others, generosity equal to that which you 
manifested in your conduct towards a forlorn and 
unhappy stranger i 1 ' 

Henri, unable to speak, bowed his thanks. lie 
extended Jacintha to the pier, nor left it till the 
packet was under weigh. He then, with swim- 
ming eyes and a heavy heart, retired from it, re- 
peating to himself her last words. 

" Unavailing wishes !" he exclaimed. " My 
hopes and expectations of happiness are already 
disappointed. Yet, though unavailing, sweet is 
the idea of them.. .yes, soothing to my soul is the 
idea of living in her remembrance. Ah ! why 



NOCTURNAL VISIT. 61 

did I not strive to resist this passion at its com- 
mencement I Had I done so.. .had I attended to 
the scgge&tions of reason, which warned me of 
the misery it was likely to be productive of, I 
should not, perhaps, have experienced such pangs 
as I now feel. Vain, however, is the regret. It 
only adds sharpness to...shall I dare to say, the 
sting of disappointment ? Oh, no ; I never en- 
couraged a presumptuous fought*" 



& NOCTURNAL VISIT. 



CHAP. V. 



ss Jacintha*here in solitude ihey found, 
4i Her downcast eyes fixt on the silent ground ; 
" Her dress neglected, and unbound her hair, 
u She seem'd the mournful image of Despair." 

GARTH. 



S^X months had now elapsed since Ja- 
eintha quitted England; hut so tedious appears 
time passed in misery, that it seemed to her six 
years since she had left it. 

There were but few passengers on board the 
packet, and these all strangers to Jacintha. As 
soon as it was under weigh, a sailor put into her 
hands a small sealed parcel, which, to her ex- 
treme regret, she found to be her pocket-book, 
undiminished in its contents, and which, previous 
to the commencement of her journey to Calais, 
she had insisted on Henri's accepting. She felt 
shocked and distressed beyond expression, at the 
idea of his little stock of wealth (which, she un- 
derstood, he had received from his instructress, 
as the means of freeing himself from the tyranny 
of his parents) being, in all probability, expended 
on her account, and of the consequent difficulties 
in which he might be involved-; and, had she had 
the power of doing so, she would immediai 



NOCTURNAL VISIT. 63 

have sent back what she conceived he had so Im- 
prudently returned. 

Early the next morning the packet reached Do- 
ver. Jacinth a hailed with delight those -white 
cliffs, to which, but a few months before, she had 
bidden so melancholy a farewel. Gloom and 
despondence vanished as she approached them ; 
the sweet consciousness of security diffused a 
pleasing' serenity over her mind, and cheerfulness 
again took up its abode in her bosom. 

On reaching the inn, to which they all repaired, 
she parted from her fellow-passengers, and was, 
by her desire, shown into a private room. She 
lost not a moment in inquiring about a convey- 
ance to the metropolis. Hearing there was a 
vacant seat in the mail-coach, which set off in the 
•evening, she directly secured it, as the most eli- 
gible mode of travelling for her, in her present 
unprotected situation. 

The intervening hours wore heavily away, and 
nothing but a dread of encountering some person 
she knew, prevented her from getting some one 
to shew her the antiquities of Dover. 

The passengers in the coach consisted of two 
elderly men and a woman ; who, after a little de- 
sultory conversation at the beginning of the jour- 
ney, sunk to repose. Jacintha vainly wished to 
follow their example, as her mind became invo- 
luntarily agitated at the idea of what her feelings 
in a few short hours would be, when she should 
either have her expectations confirmed or disap- 
pointed. She felt, that suspense itself does not 
cause greater agitation, than the anticipation of 
that moment in which we imagine it will be ter- 
minated. 



1 






64 NOCTURNAL VISIT. 



At an early hour the next morning-, she and the 
other passengers were set down at ******* inn ; 
where, however, the latter stopped but- a. few mi- 
nutes, and Jacintha could not refrain a sigh at the." 
idea of being; compelled to stay behind them, from 
having no friend, no home to receive her. 

She saw however the more destitute she was, the 
more requisite her own exertions were. Check- 
ing, therefore, the unpleasant reflections her situ- 
ation inspired, which she fluttered herself a few 
hours would reverse, she desired to be shewn into 
a more private room than that into which she had 
been ushered on quitting the coach, and ordered 
breakfast. It was some time, however, before 
breakfast made its appearance, for as yet but few 
of the inhabitants -of the inn were up ; and the sur- 
rounding streets, which, in a few hours resounded 
with the rattling chariot and din of business, were 
now almost perfectly still and deserted. 

~ The first object with Jacintha was, to procure a 
proper habitation for herself, which she did not 
consider a common inn to be ; but where to look 
for such an one she was utterly at a loss. After 
a little consideration, it occurred to her, that the 
people of the house, perhaps, might be able to as- 
sist her search ; accordingly, when the waiter en- 
tered with breakfast, she desired him to inform his 
distress she wished to speak to her. 

In consequence of this message, a little, fat, vul- 
gar-looking woman soon after entered the room, and 
begged, with a curtesy, to know Jacintha's com- 
mands. Jacintha motioned for her to take a chair, 
and then (though not without embarrassment, con- 
scious that she must appear in a suspicious light) 
informed her of the purpose for which she had sent 
for her. 



NOCTURNAL VISIT. 

The landlady made her no reply for several mi- 
nutes, nor would she promise to comply with the 
est of Jacintha, till she had repeatedly ques- 
tioned and requestioned her. At length she sal .. 
she knew a widow woman, who lived in Oxford- 
street, who had very nice snug lodgings, which, if 
unlet, she thought she might be able to procure 
for her ; but assured her, if she found her good na- 
ture or credulity were imposed upon, she should 
resent it highly. 

Jacintha thanked her fervently for her obliging 
iness to serve her, and expressed an earnest 
wish to have an immediate inquiry made abou: 
these lodgings. 

The landlady accordingly left the room, and 
returned in about an hour with the pleasing in- 
formation of their being ready for her reception. 

Jacintha., rejoiced at this intelligence, 
not a moment in proceeding to. them, eager to 
commence those inquiries her heart dictated ; and 
previous to which, she considered, procuring a pro- 
per habitation for herself, an indispensable step. 

She was set down at a neat private house, at the 
upper end of Oxford-street. The door was opened ' 
by an elderly woman, of no very prepossessing ap- 
pearance, who, on Jacintha' s entering 
gave her to understand she was the mistress of 
mansion. She led the way up stairs to a small 
1 drawing-room, commanding a pleasant 
of Hyde Park, calling, as she did so, to a servant 
girl, to go and receive the young lady's luggage 
n the coachman. 

The girl followed in a few minutes with this lug- 
;e, which merely consisted of the few necessa- 
Jacintha had brought with her from the cha- 
teau, tied up in a handkerchief. 

R 



66 NOCTURNAL VISIT. 

" The coachman, says there is nothing more of 
your's in the coach, mem," cried the girl, dangling 
the bundle upon her finger. 

" Nothing more!" repeated her mistress, in a 
voice expressive of surprise and displeasure, 
castin^as- •. hiehcali- 



ed a blush into her f i 




on it betrayed; 


then, as if rece 




the bundle 


from the girl, and ( 




i and discharge 


the coach, 






Jacintha inforth^t 




o nave 


it idischaFged, a 






nlinutes. Mi s. Bei 




. 


expect her back ; to wJj 




a re- 


plied, she could not pbssi 




rs. Benson 


having asked her a Few 




(questions, 


retired wh 1 >aid. 






Ja« inthi 




. h 


dress, cend 







she directly pi 


c hou 


se of Egbert's 


friend 


t, in the ci 


ty. Herefno- 


■\i)\iH, on ■- oacl 


. idea 


: i per- 






it, \k 


violeiv oiild s 







step to her for a few 
: n ed to 



NOCTURNAL VISIT. 67 

♦ 
coachman to drive further into the city, where M r. 
Decourcy's agent resided; but here disappoint- 
ment also awaited her. He was gone out of town 
with his family, and the woman entrusted with the 
care of his house, could give no information what- 
soever concerning them. 

Tortured by her incertitude about those she 
loved, Jacintharesolved on proceedingimmediately 
to Mortlake, where she trusted it would be termi- 
nated; better able to bear the contempt of Mrs. 
Derwent, and the coldness of miss Woodville, 
than the pain it inflicted. 

Thither she was accordingly driven ; but the 
moment the coach stopped at Mrs. Derwent's 
house, she was convinced she should not here re- 
ceive the satisfaction she required, as its closed 
windows evidently proved the family were from 
home. She alighted, however, and after knock- 
ing several times, the door was at length opened 
by an elderly woman, who soon confirmed her con- 
jecture, by informing her that Mrs. Derwent and 
miss Woodville had left home upwards 6f a month. 

u To what place are they gone . ? " asked Jacia 
tha. 

" Why, I understand they are gone upon a • 
to some of the distant counties, miss," replied the 
woman. 

" Fray, can you tell me whether Mr. Wool- 
w r as of their party ?" 

" Oh Lord! yes, miss ; he came up from V, 
field on purpose to go with them." 

" Good heaven i h o w u n fo r t u n at e ! " c r i e 1 1 
cintha. " Then I suppose you can give me ijo 

ection to them ?" 

u No, that I can't, indeed ; but if you choose to 
leave any letter or message with m 



tfi )'CXURN " m\ 

I 

will he sure to deliver either, faithful] 

return ; which, I dare say, they will do in al 

six v/eeks or two months." 

u Two^rgesl" exclaimed Jacintha, in : 
of impatience and disappointment. 

u Dear me, miss, I am sorry to see you so fret- 
ted, '' cried the woman. " Pray walk into the hall, 
and rest yourself a bit. I am sorry there is not a 
better place to shew you into." 

Jacintha, almost exhausted by her feelings, ac- 
e good woman's invitation. Alter con- 
i little, it occurred to her that plpli^aps 
this woman might be able, in some degrc 
Here the anxiety she suffered about her friei 
This idea no sooner occurred than her spirits felt 
revived, and raising her head from her h; 
inquired \- . belonged to Mrs. D 

kt ■ e^" trie woman replied, she was wife to the 

s can probably 

ter Mr. and [ . cy, who, 

ure, are r< your lady, 

iately, or e still 

i miss, I ki ■' ■ 



when they W< d 

, miss ; but he said he supposed not for 

,; ig that de- 

li In the house. 



TURNAL VISIT, 69 

" Why, no, re- 

plied the woman. " But, Lord! such a pel 
might have come forty times, and I not have seen 
him ; for I am not in tl : seeing my lady's 

visiters." 

" Good heaven !'' exclaimed Jacintha to her- 
self, finding all her inquiries fruitless, u 
shall I do ? To endure, any longer, the torture 
ted by my ignorance of those I love. 

She sat some minute;-; in dee]) meditation ; the 
mination to go to Mra; 
Grevillethe ensuing day. She rewarded the wo- 
man for her civility ; and, with a heavy : 
entered the coach, and returned to her h 
from fatigue of body and mind. 
e had scarcely entered the drawing-room, 
ere she was followed by Mrs. Benson, who dea 
to know whether site had dined. Jacintha replied 
e negative, but said she had no appetite. 
Lord! you had better come down, and 
cup of tea with me, ma'am," said . 
" you really look quite weak and pale." 
Jacintha accepted the invitation, glad of 
„ expedient which had a chance of dive 
unhappiness of her thoughts. She soon 1 
Mr. Benson's motive for desiring her eompli 
was curiosity, not good-nature. "She found ic dif- 
ficult to avoid answering the direct questions she 
put to her ; and on declining to do so, Mrs. I 
son proceeded to mention the danger v 
tended any attempt at imposing upon pa , 
house -keepers. She mentioned the exemplary 
punishment she had inflicted upon two or three 
persons, who had attempted to practi 
n 2 



70 NOCTUIINAL VISIT. 

upon her, and whom, as strangers, she had most 
unwillingly admitted into her house. 

Jacintha heard her without emotion, conscious 
of possessing the power of removing the suspicions 
she saw she entertained concerning her, and at 
which she was not in the least surprised. 

Her conversation reminded her of the scan- 
tiness of her wardrobe ; and being unwilling to go 
to any place where she was not known, by herself, 
she asked Mrs. Benson to accompany her the next 
morning, as early as convenient, to make the pur- 
chases she required. 

Mrs. Benson's countenance brightened at this 
invitation, and she readily promised to attend her. 

At her request Jacintha breakfasted with her 
the ensuing morning, and immediately after break- 
fast, proceeded with her, on foot, to a house a little 
lower in the street, which she had particular!;, 

.•■^ti, where she bespoke a variety of 
whioh the people promised to send home 
be next evening. Hence she proceeded 
in a coach to the lodgings which she knew Mrs. 
Greville had occupied in Essex-street, at the time 
she left the kingdom ; where, she flattered herself, 
•one should not again be disappointed. That this,' 
however, would be the case, she had no great fear, 
as she knew the term for which Mrs. Greville had 
taken them, was not yet expired. Nothing but a 
hope of having her painful anxiety about her 
nds relieved by this visit, could have induced 
I er to make it ; so unwilling was she to encoun- 
ter tiie rudeness and ill-nature of Mrs. Greville and 
-s Gertrude. 

The hall-door was opened by a little girl, who 
instantly destroyed the hope which had brought 
Jacintha to the house, by informing her Mrs. 
Greville had left it. 



NOCTURNAL VISIT. 71 

Jacintha paused for a moment in an agony of 
disappointment, and then desired to know whether 
she was gone to the country. Ere the girl could 
reply to this question, a woman, who had stood 
listening, at a parlour-door, to Jacintha's inquiries, 
came out, and informed her Mrs. Greville was 
gone to live with her daughter, in Finsbuiy-square. 

" In Finsbury-square!" repeated Jacintha; and 
was about asking a more particular direction, when 
the woman prevented her by saying.... 

" Yes, miss, it is there Mr. Poiworth, who mar- 
ried her daughter, lives." 

" How long has she been married I" asked 
Jacintha. 

« Why, upwards of two months, miss,'' said the 
woman, drawing closer to the coach, and laying 
her hand upon the door; " and very greatly, I 
assure you. Mr. Poiworth is a merchant of the 
first consequence ; andthoogh, to be sure, a little 
oldish for so young a lady, his wealth may well 
make amends for every thing. 'Twas a lucky 
hour for her, when first her mother thought of 
bringing her to town." 

" I hope it may prove so," cried Jacintha, fer- 
vently, yet involuntarily, in a voice that proved her 
doubts of its being so. 

Ci I am sure you would think so, miss, if you 
saw the stile in which she lives. Why, she has a 
house and a coach fit for a princess ; and as to 
dress, I don't suppose there's a woman of her rank 

in the kingdom exceeds her in that respect 

Many people blamed her for marrying a man so 
much older than herself; but, for my part, I think 
she shewed her wisdom in doing so." 

" I hope she did," again involuntarily said 
Jacintha. Then begging her address, she put a 



72 NOCTURNAL VISIT. 

stop to any further conversation, by ordering the 
coachman to drive on. 

He stopped, agreeably to her direction, b^ 
a very handsome house. Whilst he was knock- 
ing at it, Jacintha looked from the window, and 
caught, at the moment, a glimpse of Mrs. Greville 
peeping over a Venetian blind in the parlour. That 
Mrs. Greville saw and recognized her, Jacintha 
was convinced, from her immediately retrea 
and she greatly feared her being denied to her. 

She found herself, however, agreeably mis- 
taken. The servant who opened the door, im- 
mediately said Mrs. Greville, for whom Jacintha 
alone inquired, was at home ; and Jacintha ac- 
cordingly alighting, was ushered through a very 
handsome hall, up a flight of stairs richly carpeted, 
into a superb drawing-room, where all bespoke the 
wealth of the master, and taste of the mistress. 

ere she sat a full nour, before any one made 
their appearance, during which her thoughts fre- 
quently reverted from . too pro! 
consequences likely to rt 
between beings so 

positions, and pursuits, as she had reason to sup- 
pose Gertrude and her husband to be an union 

to which, she concluded, from what she had heard, 
that vanity on one side, and a foolish and incon- 
siderate passion on the other, had I sole 
inducement. 

At length the drawing-j\«cm door was thr- 
open, and Mrs. Greville entered, completely out 
of mourning, and dressed in a style not more ridi- 
culous then improper, coi> driy hour 
of the day. At the first glance, 
had altered her dress ; and she now perceived to 



NOCTURNAL VISIT. 73 

what cause it was owing-, she had not before made 
her appearance. 

iding the ill treatment Jacintha had 
i her, her affectionate heart in- 
voluntarily glowed with pleasure at the sight of a 

person whom she had so long known so long 

looked up to as her nearest relative ; and who, by 
by an association of ideas, revived the recollection 
of many tender and interesting scenes, at once 
-ant Srml mournful to her soul. 
2 started from her chair the moment Mrs. 
Greville entered, and, with out-stretched hands, 
and a smile of ineffable sweetness, was approach- 
ing her, when the coldness of Mrs. Greville's look, 
and her formal curtsey, made her as hastily retreat 
as she had advanced, vexed with herself for having 
yielded to her feelings. 

" This is an unexpected pleasure, miss Jacintha," 
said Mrs. Greville, seating her e spoke, 

upon a sofa, and motioning to Jacintha to resume 
her chair ; " pray, when did yen come to town :" 

Jacintha informed her. 

" And how did you hear of my address ?" 

Jacintha satisfied her also on this head. 

" And so you did not hear until this morning 
iss Greville's : : ' 

" No, madam, I did' not," replied Jacintha. 

"You were vastly surprised, I suppose, at it ?" 

" Not in the least," replied Jacintha. " We can 
only be surpri- : xtraordinary and there 

raordinary in such a 



1 .: ; ; 



. Greville, with 
thought, 
ad net a great 



;ht havewc .1 her being so 



74 NOCTURNAL VISIT. 

advantageously settled. Many people did so, I 
assure you." 

" I think they should rather have wondered if 
she had not been advantageously settled," said 
Jacintha, with a good-natured smile. 

" Certainly, Gertrude has attractions," cried Mrs. 
Greville ; " but then fortune is so generally the 
first consideration in these days, that people are 
unavoidably surprised when they hear of disinterest- 
ed matches. Perhaps you don't know," she added, 
fearing that Jacintha, from not expressing any 
astonishment at the sudden elevation of Gertrude, 
was not fully impressed with an idea of it, " that 
Mr. Pol worth is one of the first merchants in the 
city, and possessed of a princely independence." 

%he then proceeded to gratify her vanity, by giv- 
ing an account of the setclement, the courtship, 
the marriage, and even the entertainments, which 
were given in consequence of it. 

From her narrative, notwithstanding the care 
she took not to say any thing which could lessen 
her daughter, Jacintha was able to collect sufnciei.; 
to prove that she was not mistaken in the motives 
she had ascribed Gertrude's marriage to ; and also 
to make her conjecture it had been greatly opposed 
by the friends of Mr. Pol worth, on account of his 
age, and a daughter he had by a first marriage. 

As soon as Mrs. Greville had gratified her vanity, 
by fully expatiating upon the wealth and conse- 
quence of her daughter, she endeavoured to gratify 
her curiosity, by inquiring into everything which 
had befallen Jacintha since they separated : but 
particularly, how she became acquainted with the 
lady in Lancashire.... 

" To whose house," continued she, " I lear 
from Mrs. Derwent,one clay Mrs. Polworth di 
me to Mortlake in her photon, you were gi 



NOCTURNAL VISIT* 7s 

Jaeintha, who expected this inquiry, betrayed 
no embarrassment at it, and merely replied to it, by 
saying, time would not permit her to enter into the 
particulars Mrs. Greville desired to know. 

She then changed the discourse, by asking after 
the health and welfare of all her family, and their 
old friends at Wyefield, and concluded by request- 
ing to know (in a manner which she hoped would 
give Mrs. Greville no suspicion of having waited 
upon her solely for the purpose of making' the in- 
quiry) whether she had heard any thing lately of 
Mr. and Mrs. Deccurcy ? 

" Not I, indeed," said Mrs. Greville. " The 
last time I heard any thing about them, was when 
I called upon Mr. Decourcy's agent for my an- 
nuity, which is at least three months ago. They - 
never desired to keep up any correspondence with 
me ; and indeed I am now glad they did not, for 
I should have found it vastly inconvenient, I am 
so constantly engaged amongst the numerous 
friends and connections of Mr. and Mrs. Pol- 
worth.' A-propos, I hope they do not mean to 
break their promises to yon. Mrs. Pol worth and 
I have often talked over the dreadful situation you 
would be in, if they should do so. In that case, 
have thought the best thing you could do, 
would be to try and procure the situation of go- 
verness ; which, in a respectable family, is not 
uncomfortable, I assure you. You can't conceive 
what a pleasant life miss Pol worth's governess 
Is. Should you require any thing of the kind, 
I think I may venture to promise you the recom- 
dation of Mrs. Pol worth." 

" You and Mrs. Foiworth, madam," replied 

•tha, with a calmness which defeated the 

malicious purpose of this speech, by proving her 



76 NOCTURNAL VISIT. 

neither ruffled nor mortified by it, " are extreme- 
ly kind in being interested about me. I have no 
doubt of your being still as much inclined, as you 
ever were, to serve me." 

" There's often a double meaning* in your 
speeches, miss Jacintha," cried Mrs. Greville, 
with a heightened colour, and after a short pause, 
" which I detest... I like plain speaking.'* 

" So do I, my dear madam,/ said Jacintha, 
11 and plain dealing too. But will you permit me 
to ask, whether you intend to return to Wyefield 
soon?" 

w Soon ! Why I don't mean to return there at 
all.... I hate the very name of it. There is no 
society there fit for any one who has seen any- 
thing of life. 'Tis the most stupid V 

Here a sudden noise outside the door, something 
like smothered laughter, interrupted her ; and the 
next instant the door was flung open, and a great, 
tall, hoidening looking girl entered, or rather 
bounced into the room ; and after rudely staring a 
minute at Jacintha, without taking any other notice 
of her, told Mrs. Greville that breakfast was ready ; 
and the old boy (meaning her father) was gone to 
the 'change ; and captain Bellamy was just come, 
in the charmingest spirits in the world. 

Mrs. Greville immediately rose, as did Jacintha. 
The inquiry most interesting to her heart she had 
delayed till this moment. She now approached 
Mrs. Greville, and, in a low voice, begged to know 
whether sj received any iv 

friend, I id. 

" My friend!" repeated Mrs. Greville, in an 
dignant tone. " I request, miss Jacintha. you 
never style him so again. I assure you, I 
never forget or forgive the disdainful manner in 



NOCTURNAL VISIT. 7? 

which he treated me when about quitting Wye- 
field. I remember the time when you would not 
have honoured me so far as to call him my friend. 
But times are altered," added she, glancing round 
the drawing-room. 

The insinuation which these words were meant 
to convey, raised a blush of indignation in the 
cheeks of Jacintha. 

" I shall no longer intrude upon your time, 
madam," said she. "Be so good as to present 
my compliments and congratulations to Mrs. 
Polworth." 

" Stop, miss Jacintha," cried Mrs. Greville, as 
Jacintha turned towards the door. " I don't want 
you to suppose I have any enmity to you ; on the 
contrary, I am inclined to pay you attention, and 
so is Mrs. Polworth, I dare say ; only she is par- 
ticularly engaged, I should introduce you to her 
now. If, however, you will leave me your address, 
we will endeavour to find an opportunity of calling 
on you." 

Not to do this, however, Jacintha had determined 
previous to seeing her, as she well knew, by giving 
her her address, she should give her an opportuni- 
ty of learning whence she came, and many other 
particulars necessary to conceal. She, therefore, 
in reply to this speech, said, it was not in her power 
at present to receive any visiters ; and again 
curtsying, she hurried from the room, not suf- 
ficiently quick, however, to prevent her hearing 
miss Polworth ask Mrs. Greville whether she was 
not the young girl whom she had brought up so 
long out of charity. 

As she was passing through the hall, a servant^ 
suddenly coming from a parlour, gave her an op- 
portunity of seeing Mrs. Polworth in a very elegant 



78 NOCTURNAL VISIT. 

morning-dress, at breakfast, with captain Bellamy 
by her side, whose looks evidently proved the sub- 
ject on which he was conversing with her. Though 
both of them glanced towards Jacintha, neither 
appeared to perceive her. 

With a heavy heart Jacintha re-entered the 
coach, and at a little distance from the house, gave 
the man a direction to her lodgings. " She saw 
there would be no use in renewing her inquiries, 
for some time, about Egbert and the Decourcys; 
and tried to bear with patience the idea of being- 
kept still longer in ignorance concerning them. 

As the coach was driving through Cheapside, it. 
got so entangled amidst other carriages, that one 
of the hind wheels was dragged off. Jacintha re 
ceivecl no other injury from the accident, than that 
which fright occasioned ; and by the exertions of 
the people, who collected round it, but more par- 
ticularly by the exertions of a gentleman, whose 
carriage had principally caused the accident, and 
who immediately alighted to offer his services, 
Jacintha was soon extricated from it, and conduct- 
ed to a jeweller's shop, on the opposite side of the 
street. Here drops and water were administered 
to her, and she soon recovered from her fright. 

The gentleman, who had been so assiduous in 
rendering her his assistance, and whose manners, 
as well as appearance, though past the prime of 
life, were highly prepossessing, still continued to 
pay her the utmost attention, and at length entreat- 
ed to have the pleasure of setting her down in 
whatever part of the town she was going to. 
This entreaty Jacintha politely, but positively de- 
clined complying with ; and notwithstanding all 
his solicitations, was quitting the shop, in order to 
pursue her way homewards on foot, when the 



NOCTURNAL VISIT. 79 

coachman entered to demand his fare, which Jacin- 
th a, in the agitation she was thrown into, had ut- 
terly forgotten. 

She directly proceeded to satisfy his demand ; 
but, on putting her hand into her pocket, she found 
both her purse and pocket-book were gone. Her 
consternation at their loss was so great, that she 
stood mute and motionless, till restored to some- 
thing like recollection by the stranger's (who still 
pressed his suit, and seemed bent on trying to pre- 
vail on her to take a seat in his carriage) inquir- 
ing whether she was ill. 

" No, sir," she replied, with a deep sigh, and 
scarcely knowing what she said. Then reflecting 
that complaints would be unavailing, and that, by 
betraying her distress, she might perhaps expose 
herself to unpleasant treatment, she calmly took 
from her pocket a few loose shillings, which she 
found in it, and paid the coachman his demand. 

She then left the shop with a determination of 
returning immediately to Mrs. Polworth's house, 
for the purpose of acquainting Mrs. Greville with 
what had happened, and endeavouring to obtain a 
supply from her for her present emergencies. 
This she was almost confident she would not, on 
Mrs. Dscourcy's account, like to refuse her; as 
Jacintha well knew, though she pretended to make 
light of their notice, she would be extremely con- 
cerned to displease them ; which, permitting her to 
remain in any distress she could free her from, 
could not fail of doing. 

Though Jacintha had still a few shillings remain- 
ing, after paying the coachman, she meant to pro- 
ceed onfoottoFinsbury-square, as the late accident 
rendered her fearful of going again through any of 
the crowded streets in a carriage. This intention, 



80 NOCTURNAL VISIT. 

however, she was obliged to give up, in conse- 
quence of being followed by the gentleman who 
had been so importunate with her to accept a seat 
in his ; and who now became so troublesome in 
his assiduities, that, in order to free herself from 
them, she suddenly beckoned to a coach, which 
immediately drawing up to the pavement, she 
stepped into it, ere he was well aware of her in- 
tention. 

On stopping at Mrs. Polworth's, she alighted 
and knocked at the door herself. The servant 
who opened it was the same she had before seen. 
In reply to her inquiry, he informed her, Mrs. 
Greville was out. 

Distressed and agitated by this intelligence, 
Jacintha was considering what she should do, 
when her eyes accidentally glanced upon one of 
the parlour-windows, and she perceived Mrs. Gre- 
ville again peeping over the Venetian blind, who 
instantly, however, shrunk from her observation. 

" I have very particular business, sir," said 
she, immediately turning to the servant, " with 
Mrs. Greville; and if I cannot see her, you 
would oblige me very much by shewing me into 
a room where I could write a few lines to her." 

The man hesitated a few minutes. He then 
admitted Jacintha into the hall, and conducted her 
into a small back parlour, fitted up something like 
an office. Here he waited till Jacintha had writ- 
ten and delivered to him a short Jiote for Mrs. 
Greville, explanatory of the distressing situation 
she was in at present, and the consequent necessity 
she was under of borrowing a few pounds from 
her, till she could receive a remittance from Mr. 
and Mrs. Decourcy. 

Near an hour elapsed ere he returned. When 
he did, he presented a sealed paper to Jacintha, 



NOCTURNAL VISIT. 83 

which she eagerly tore open ; but how great was 
her mortification, on finding it was her own note 
he had given her ! 

" What is the meaning of this, sir ?" asked she, 
looking at the servant. 

" Nothing, madam," answered he, " only that 
what I told you is true. Mrs* Greville is out, 
and so is my lady, and all the family." 

" Where are they gone I" demanded Jacintha; 
who, from the positive manner in which he spoke, 
now almost began to doubt the evidence of her 
own eyes. 

" I really don't know. Somewhere to the 
country, I believe. " 

" How soon do you expect them back ?" 

" I really can't tell when they will be back," 
answered he, somewhat impatiently. 

" They can only be gone upon an excursion," 
said Jacintha. " If I leave this note, and call for 
an answer in the evening, don't you thing it is pro- 
bable I might get one ?" 

"No; I think no such thing," replied he, in 
rather a surly accent. " I am certain there's no 
use in your either calling or sending here again." 

From these words Jacintha could no longer 
doubt Mrs. Greville's being at home, her having 
read the note, and persisting in being denied, in 
order to avoid complying with the request it con- 
tained ; neither could she doubt, both she and 
Mrs. Poiworth triumphed at the idea of the dis- 
tress her refusing to grant it, would occasion. 

Her heart swelled with indignation at their 
meanness and inhumanity, and tearing the note, 
she hurried to the hall, forgetting, in her resent- 
ment, the horrors of her situation. Ere she reached 
the hall-door, however, ail these horrors rushed 
s 2 



NOCTURNAL VISIT. 

SO 

upon her imagination. She shuddered at the 
idea of being friendless, pennyless, in such a 
place as London ; and pale and trembling, she 
stopped before the door of the parlour in which 
she had seen Mrs. Greville, and still supposed her 
to be irresolute, whether or not she should open 
it, and by explicitly declaring her sentiments, en- 
deavour to obtain the assistance she required. 
The servant, however, effectually prevented 
such a measure, by getting between her and the 
door, »and telling her there was no use in her 
waiting any longer. 

Jacintha, without replying, instantly moved on- 
wards, and left the house, almost with a solemn 
determination never more to have any intercourse 
with Mrs. Greville or her daughter. 

" Oh, my father, my friend !" she inwardly ex- 
claimed, involuntarily thinking, at this moment, 
of the departed Greville. How differently wouldst 
thou have acted ! But hadst thou lived, I should 
not have been situated as I now am. I should not 
then have needed succour or assistance ; for I 
should not then have been disclaimed, disacknow- 
ledged ; a solitary wanderer, against whom every 
door seems barred.. ..every heart seems hardened !" 
Her eyes were ready to overflow from the an- 
guish of her thoughts. She tried, however, to 
struggle against her feelings, in order to prevent 
those, who, she knew, rejoiced at her distress, and 
she doubted not, at this very moment, were watch- 
ing her, being gratified by beholding it. 

Though she was ill able to walk in the present 
agitated state of her mind, she was obliged to 
discharge the coach, in consequence of having no 
more change remaining than what exactly settled 
the coachman's demand for bringing her to Fins- 
bury-square. Exclusive of this circumstance, 



NOCTURNAL VISIT. 83 

however, she would not have re-entered it, as she 
wished for time to deliberate on the conduct she 
should pursue, ere she returned home. 

Vain, however, were her deliberations upon this 
subject. She could arrange no plan, she could 
devise no scheme, for extricating herself from her 
present difficulties, or even lessening them. The 
more she reflected upon them, the more frightful 
and multiplied they became, and her thoughts 
consequently grew wilder and more disturbed. 

She knew, both by the manner and conversa- 
tion of the woman with whom she lodged, that she 
entertained suspicions of her by no means favour- 
able. This she did not wonder at, aware that ap- 
pearances were rather against her ; and much she 
feared, that when those suspicions were confirmed, 
which she could scarcely doubt their being, on ac- 
quainting her with her present situation, the most 
unpleasant consequences would ensue. She could 
not doubt, indeed, Mrs. Benson's discrediting all 
her assertions ; and from the severe steps which 
she boasted of having taken against some former 
lodgers, whom she suspected of an intention of 
deceiving her, Jacintha could scarcely hope to 
escape her vengeance. In consequence of this 
apprehension, she became every moment more 
unwilling and afraid to face her ; and on reaching 
Charing-cross, which she did not do without di£ 
ficulty and delay, being obliged to stop frequently 
to inquire her way thither, she proceeded to St. 
James's Park, instead of turning towards Oxford- 
street, and took possession of the first vacant seat 
she saw. Here she again asked herself what she 
was to do, or rather tried to summon sufficient 
courage to do what was unavoidable.... namely, 
to return to her lodgings ; whence, with agony, 



84 NOCTURNAL VISIT. 

almost bordering on distraction, she reflected, 
that even if she escaped the ills she dreaded from 
Mrs. Benson's resentment, she would in all pro- 
bability be turned. 

Absorbed in misery, she heeded not the atten- 
tion she attracted. Scarcely a person approached 
the seat she occupied, without stopping to gaze 
upon her, struck by her beauty, the disorder of 
her dress, but still more the disorder of her 
looks ; and many continued to hover about 
her, only prevented from accosting her, by the 
deep distress which marked her countenance, 
heightened almost to an expression of wildness, by 
the quantity of hair which had fallen from be- 
neath her bonnet, and hung carelessly about it. 

At length the deep-toned clock of Westminster 
Abby striking four, roused her from her reverie. 
Her heart sunk as the sound vibrated on her ear ; 
for it seemed a signal to her, to return to her 
dreaded home ; and she accordingly rose for the 
purpose of doing so, certain, the longer she con- 
tinued out, the stronger appearances would be 
against her. 

At this instant, just as she " was quitting her 
seat, she heard a female voice, at a little distance, 
calling to her. She started, and turning eagerly 
round, perceived a lady and two gentlemen has- 
tening towards her. At the first glance, she did 
not recollect the lady ; but upon her drawing 
hearer, Jacintha immediately recognized in her 
an early companion and friend, who, in conse- 
quence of the severity of her friends, had, three 
years before, eloped from Wyefield to London ; 
a step, which, from the advantages it was reported 
to have been attended with to her, might, perhaps, 
as has been hinted in the beginning of this book, 
have set a dangerous example to Jacintha, w in 



NOCTURNAL VISIT. 85 

situation then so nearly resembled that she fled 
from, but for the superior strength and delicacy 
of her mind. 

The striking alteration in the dress of her 
friend, which was fashionable in the extreme, and 
whom Jacintha had never before seen in any thing 
better than a russet gown and round cap, was the 
cause of her not directly recollecting her. But when 
she did ; when she found herself affectionately 
saluted by a person, who, she had reason to believe, 
regarded her, and who, she doubted not, would do 
all in her power to guard her from the dangers 
now impending over her ; the sudden transition, 
from despair to hope, from anguish to joy, was 
almost too much for her weakened spirits ; and, 
had not tears come to her relief, she would, in all 
probability, have sunk beneath her feelings. 
Trembling and sobbing, she threw herself upon 
the seat whence she had just risen, unable, for 
many minutes, to do more than fervently press 
the hand of her friend, Mrs. Saville, to her bosom. 

Mrs. Saville returned her pressure with the 
utmost tenderness, and inquired the cause of her 
emotions. As soon as Jacintha could speak, she 
rose, and still holding the hand of her friend, drew 
her to a little distance from the seat, and briefly 
informed her of the distressing situation she was 
then in. 

" Good heaven ! I don't wonder, indeed," cried 
Mrs. Saville, after attentively listening to her, 
<c at your being almost mad. You can't conceive 
how I rejoice at having met you, at so critical a 
juncture. The pleasure of this unexpected meet- 
ing is doubly heightened, by its having taken place 
at such a time. Be composed, my dear girl. I 
thank heaven, my ability to serve you is not in- 
ferior to my inclination. My house, my purse, 



86 NOCTURNAL VISIT. 

are both at your command, and shall continue to 
be so while you need them." 

-.A aother shower of tears fell from the eyes of 
Jacinth a at these words ; and, more forcibly, per- 
haps, than any language could have done, ex- 
pressed the grateful feelings to which the fulness 
of her heart would not permit her to give utter- 
ance. 

" Come, come," cried Mrs. Saville, tapping her 
cheek, " I will have nothing but sunshine now. 
We will directly steer our course homewards, 
where we can talk more freely over our adventures 
and misadventures, than we can possibly do here ; 
and where you shall give me the address of the 
woman with whom you lodged, and the trades- 
people from whom you bespoke your things, that 
I may immediately settle with them." 

So saying, she beckoned to the two gentlemen, 
her companions, who had Hitherto stood aloof. 
They directly hastened to her, and Jacintha was 
presented to them as her most particular friend. 
Jacintha unwillingly raised her tearful eyes 
from the ground to encounter theirs ; and in- 
stantly recognized, in one of them, the gentleman 
who had been so assiduous, or rather, so trouble- 
some, in the morning ; and whom Mrs. Saville 
introduced to her as a Mr. Loveit, a relation and 
intimate friend of her deceased husband, Mr. 
Saville. 

" From the occurrences of this day, I shall cer- 
tainly be tempted to worship chance," cried Mr. 
Loveit. 

« Why, what has chance done to merit your 
adoration ?" asked Mrs. Saville. 

" Given me an opportunity of seeing and 
knowing one of the most lovely objects in the 
creation." 



NONTURNAL VISIT. Z7 

Mrs. Saville desired an explanation of these 
words, which he accordingly gave, accompanied 
by looks too expressive of admiration not to em- 
barrass Jacintha. Her confusion was too great 
not to be perceived^ and Mr. Loveit, not less 
well-bred than gallant, checked himself, in order 
to avoid increasing it. 

Mrs. Saville lived in Sloane-street. On enter- 
ing her house, which was spacious, and hand- 
somely furnished, she quitted the gentlemen, and 
conducted Jacintha to her dressing-room, where 
she received a more particular account of her 
present situation, and the incidents that had led 
to it. She was minute, indeed, in her inquiries ; 
but as Jacintha imputed them to friendship and 
solicitude about her, she answered them as unre- 
servedly and explicitly as prudence would permit. 

Mrs. Saville, in her turn, related what had 
befallen her . since her departure from Wyefield, 
of which Jacintha had before heard but an im- 
perfect, and consequently unsatisfactory, account. 

On her arrival in London, she said, she fortu- 
nately obtained an introduction to an old lady, 
who engaged her as a companion. In her house 
she met an elderly gentleman of fortune, who 
soon became her captive, and made her proposrils, 
which she did not think it prudent to reject. A 
year after their marriage he died, leaving her a 
very handsome independence. 

She professed herself extremely happy, and 
ready to render every service, in her power, to her 
relations in Wyefield ; though, from their former 
conduct to her, they little merited any attention 
from her. She also avowed her determination of 
not again parting with her liberty, without due 



88 NOCTURNAL VISIT. 

consideration, as she had not enjoyed any great 
portion of felicity in the married state. 

As soon as the curiosity of each was satisfied, 
Mrs. Saville proposed to Jacintha her accom- 
panying her to Covent-Garden theatre in the 
evening, which, with the other winter theatre, 
had been opened a few days, and in which, she 
said, she had places engaged. 

Jacintha had no other objection to this proposal 
(as she thought, like her friend, an amusement 
of the nature proposed, would agreeably unbend 
her mind, and detach it from painful retrospec- 
tions) than her dress. This was an objection, 
however, immediately obviated, by Mrs. Saville's 
offering to accommodate her from her wardrobe. 

Accordingly a waiting-maid was summoned, 
and,with her assistance and Mrs. Saville's, Jacintha 
was elegantly dressed in a' few minutes ; and, 
with her friend, descended to the dining-parlour, 
where the two gentlemen impatiently expected 
them. Dinner was served in a few minutes after 
their return to it x , and a lively and pleasant conver- 
sation took place. That Mr. Loveit was a man 
of high fashion and great information, both his 
manner and discourse denoted; and captain Mer- 
ton, the name of the other gentleman, a young 
and very handsome man, was scarcely less elegant 
or entertaining. 

In the society of people she liked, and a friend 
she regarded, Jacintha once more began to feel 
herself happy. But, though she admired Mr. 
Loveit, she would have been much better pleased 
had his attentions been less particular, and his 
looks less impassioned. In the course of the 
evening, however, his declaring his almost con- 
tinual gaze was owing to the striking likeness she 



NOCTURNAL VISIT. S9 

bore a lady whom he had formerly known, in 
some degree overcame the embarrassment it ex- 
cited. 

Mrs. Saville eagerly inquired who the lady 
was. 

" She was," replied Mr. Loveit, " one of the 

loveliest of. .but need I expatiate upon her 

charms, when I tell you miss Greville is her 
counterpart ? Never in my life did I behold so 
strong, so perfect a resemblance.. ..it extends even 
to the voice." 

" What was her name ?" asked Mrs. Saville. 

" Excuse me," said Mr. Loveit, " I have very 
particular reasons for not mentioning it ; nor is 
it of any consequence to know it, as she has long 
been numbered with the dead." 

" She made a deep impression upon your me- 
mory, I fancy," said Mrs. Saville. 

" A deep one indeed, cried Mr. Loveit, with a, 
sigh ; and suddenly rising, he walked about the 
room for several minutes in manifest agitation ; 
then resuming his seat, he began to converse on 
another subject. 

Coffee was soon after served, and Mrs. Saville 
ordered her coach, in which the party proceeded 
to Co vent Garden. 



90 NOCTURNAL VISIT. 



CHAP. VI. 



" Hold off, and let me run into his arms !" 

LEE'S ALEXANDER. 

" Pleasure never comes sincere to man, 

" But lent by Heav'n npcn hard usury ; 

" And while Jove holds us out the bowl of joy, 

" Ere it can reach our lips, 'tis dash'd with gall 

** By some left-handed god." 

bryden's OEDIPUS. 



13 Y the time they reached the theatre, the 

first act of the play was nearly over. The in- 

. n that and the second, was employed 

icintna in looking about the house, which she 

never before been in ; but the moment the 

curtain again drew up, her whole, attention was 

directed to the stage. Mr. Loveit procured a 

seat by her, and his conversation between the acts 

;htened the entertainment of the evening. She 

that captain Merton was very assiduous to 

' .end ; but as he had also, like Mr. Loveit, 

been introduced to her as a relation and intimate 

friend of the late Mr. Saville, knew not 

whether to impute his assiduities to friendship or 

to love. 

Towards the conclusion of the play, a )i 
bustle in the next box made her instinctively 



NOCTURNAL VISIT. 91 

rect her eyes towards it, and she beheld two gen- 
tlemen quitting it, in one of whom, with emotions, 
which may better be conceived than described, 
she recognized Egbert. 

She instantly started from her seat in order to 
fly after him. This action, together with the 
wildness of look which accompanied it, alarmed 
Mrs. Saville, who, catching her hand, eagerly in- 
quired what was the matter ? 

" I have seen him. ...I have seen him ?" whis- 
pered Jacintha, in almost breathless; agitation. 
" I have seen Mr. Oswald 1 He quitted the next 
box this instant. Oh do not detain me, for hea- 
ven's sake ! or he will be gone.. ..we shall miss 
each other !" 

Mrs. Saville was proceeding to make some 
ijr inquiry, which Jacintha interrupted, by 
forcing her hand from her, and making her way, 
■rdless, or rather unconscious of any obstacles, 
to the box-door. She looked, in vain, however, 
on gaining the lobby, for Egbert ; and, in the 
agony of disappointment, she wrung her L. 
together, and burst into tears. 

" For heaven's sake ! my clear girl," said Mis. 
Saville, who, with the gentlemen, had hastily 
followed her, " try to compose yourself." 

" Oh I why did you detain me I" cried Jacin- 
tha. " He is gone, and perhaps I may no 
able to find him." 

u I dare say he has not left the hou: 
. Saville. " Describe him as well as 
and these gentlemen will go in search of hi] 
am sure." 

Jacintha, joyfully catching at the hope these 

words inspired, did as her friend desired, and the 

Lie men departed different ways. Mrs- Savti!-.- 



n NOCTURNAL VISIT. 

then drawing Jacintha to a seat, entreated her t© 
endeavour to calm her emotions, which, she made 
her observe had already drawn the eyes of several 
people upon her. This observation increased Jacin- 
tha's impatience for the return of the gentlemen. 
Nearly half an hour elasped ere they came back. 
The moment Jacintha perceived Mr. Loveit, who 
first returned, she started involuntarily from her 
seat, and hastened to meet him. His words con- 
firmed what his looks had previously announced, 
namely, that he had been unsuccessful in his 
search ; and captain Me r ton, almost at the same 
instant, declared he had been equally unfortunate. 
Jacintha now relapsed into tear* and agonies ; 
nor could all the eloquence of her friend, or the 
united efforts of the gentlemen, in any degree 
tranquillize her, till they suggested to her the 
probability there was, of her being able to obtain 
some satisfactory intelligence about Egbert the 
next day, by having an inquiry made after him 
in the most frequented coffee-houses and hotels, 
which inquiry both Mr. Loveit and captain Mer- 
ton readily undertook making. 

Again cheered by revived hope, Jacintha soon 
recovered sufficiently to be able to enter the car- 
riage. She excused herself, however, from sitting 
up to supper ; for the various occurrences of this 
eventful day had completely fatigued her spirits. 
Mrs. Saville admitted her excuse, and attended 
her to her chamber, where she repeated to her 
every assurance that had a tendency to calm her 
mind. 

In congratulating herself upon the safe return 
of Egbert, and the prospect there was of their soon 
meeting, Jacintha tried to overcome or lessen the 
regret occasioned by her disappointment relative to 



NOCTURNAL VISIT. 93 

him in the play-house. It recurred to her, that it 
would be an adviseable measure to leave her ad- 
dress for him at the house of his late friend, the 
merchant in the city, where she had no doubt of 
his Celling. This idea she communicated to Mrs. 
Saville, the next morning, who approved of it ; but 
said, instead of waiting upon Mr. Arden, she 
thought it would be better to write to him. 

Accordingly, after breakfast, Jacintha wrote 
a few lines, which she sent by a servant of Mrs. 
Saville, requesting Mr. Arden to have the good- 
ness to inform Mr. Oswald, or desire him to be 
informed, should he chance to call at his house, 
»that a very particular friend wished to see him at 
such a place (giving Mrs. Saville's direction). 

Neither Mr. Loveit nor captain Merton made 
their appearance till towards dinner-time ; neither 
brought any satisfactory intelligence for Jacintha ; 
and, in proportion as her spirits had been elevated 
by hope, they now sunk, from disappointment. 
Mrs. Savilie perceiving her, after dinner, so weak 
and languid that she could scarcely sit up, or speak, 
proposed, in hopes the air and exercise might be 
of service to her, taking her to pass the night at a 
villa she had, about six miles from town, upon the 
banks of the Thames. 

Jacintha immediately acceded to this propose.',, 
as she saw her friend wished her to do so ; and, 
besides, thought that change of scene might be of 
service to her. Accordingly the coach was ordered, 
and the gentlemen followed the ladies into it, 
though both had previously mentioned their being 
engaged ; engagements, however, which they 
declared they gave up with the utmost pleasure, 
to have the superior pleasure of atten 
ladies in their excursion. 
t2 



94 NOCTURNAL VISIT. 

Mrs. Saville's house was built in the cottage 
style, elegantly fitted up, and delightfully -situated. 
The grounds were extensive ; and though it was 
now about the middle of October, they still re- 
tained a great deal of autumnal beauty. 

Jacintha felt herself benefited by the air and the 
ride, but more by the assurances both gentle- 
men gave her, of being still more diligent and 
general in their inquiries the ensuing day, than they 
had been on this. 

The ensuing one, however, passed away like 
preceding, without bringing either Egbert, oi 
information of Egbert to her. 

The night they came to the villa, Mrs. Savilie 

proposed their remaining a few days at it, as the 

weather was still delightfully fine, to which pro- 

i Jacintha made no objection ; but when she 

kd there was no tidings of Egbert, she sincerely 

etfced having done so, as she felt she should 

have been much happier, or rather less restless and 

disturbed in town, where, in wandering about the 

streets, she would have had a chance of meeting 

him, than where she was at present. 

She hinted this to Mrs. Savilie, who either did 
not, or pretended not to understand the hint. Ja- 
cintha then spoke more explicitly, upon which 
Mrs. Savilie replied, it was totally out of her power 
to return to town immediately ; as, upon leaving 
it, she had given orders to have some alterations 
made in the principal rooms of her house, which 
could not be finished in less than a few days. 

"I thought," said Jacintha, much surprii 
w you left town with an intention of st . 
one night country." 

Mrs. Savilie, colouring 
ne minutes, as if to 



NOCTURNAL VISIT. 95 

for an answer, " I left it with an intention of stay- 
ing several nights in the country, and I thought I 
toid you so in the coach. But, lord ! my dear," 
continued she, in rather a peevish accent, and 
without giving Jacintha an opportunity of speak- 
ing, "you really make a monstrous fuss about this 
young man. ...much more than he is deserving of, 
I dare say." 

" Good heaven !" exclaimed Jacintha, " after 
what I told you concerning him, can you wonder 
at my strong anxiety about him ?" 

"Indeed I can, except you are assured he is 
equally anxious about you." 

" Then I am assured he is," cried Jacintha. 

" Don't be too certain," said Mrs. Savilie ; "men 
are naturally fickle ; as the old song says...." To 
one thing constant never." 

" I must have convincing proofs of the incon- 
stancy of the man I Jove, ere I can give credit to 
it," said Jacintha. 

" Well, supposing he is constant," cried Mrs. 
Savilie, " would you really be so imprudent, so 
foolish, as to marry him, except he had recovered 
something like an independence?" 

" I would indeed," said Jacintha; " because I 
should hope by doing so, to lighten his cares, and 
to lessen his difficulties." 

" I am sorry to find your notions so romantic," 
said Mrs. Savilie. " Take my word for it, love 
would never compensate you for the pleasures and 
comforts you must forego, by marrying a man 
without a fortune. Come, be well advised ; dis- 
miss the foolish ideas you at present harbour, and 
make a proper use of your attractions." 

" I don't understand you," cried Jacint 



96 NOCTURNAL VISIT. 

" Accept the advantages they would procure you," 
answered Mrs. Saville. " At this moment there 
is a man of elegance, of affluence, of consequence, 
ready to lay himself, and all he possesses, at your 
feet. I am sure you know who I mean." 

" I should be concerned to think you were seri- 
ous," said Jacintha, " concerned to think I had in- 
spired a passion which I could not return." 

" And why not ?" demanded Mrs. Saville. 

" Why not !" repeated Jacintha ; " surely it is 
scarcely necessary to answer such a question ; 
but since you have asked it, I must inform you 
that, was my attachment to Mr. Oswald less fer- % 
vent than it is, I should still be bound to him from 
honour, since, from the mutual vows that passed 
between us, I consider myself almost as much his 
wife, as if the ceremony that would make me so, 
had already taken place." 

" Vows !" said Mrs. Saville, with a deriding 
laugh, " you really are now quite the country girl. 
After plighted vows, you will next begin to speaks 
I suppose, of love-tokens. Ah, my dear Jacintha ! 
I see you have not forgotten your village education." 

" I wish," cried Jacintha, in a voice half gay, 
half serious, " I could say the same of you." 

" Well," said Mrs. Saville, " let us now adjourn 
to the gentlemen. "...This conversation had taken 
place in her dressing-room, after dinner...." I dare 
say, by this time, they have finished their wine, 
and tea is ready." 

They accordingly descended to the parlour, where 
they found they had been expected some time. 

The hint which Mrs. Saville had drop] 
rather given, of Mr. Loveit's attachment, determin- 
ed Jacintha to be more cool and distant in her 



NOCTURNAL VISIT- S* 

conduct to him than she had hitherto been. This 
coolness and distance, however, did not answer the 
purpose for which they were intended, namelyf of 
checking his attentions, by shewing her dislike to 
them ; on the contrary, the more reserved she 
? grew, the more assiduous and impassioned he be- 
came ; and Jacintha thought with the utmost un- 
easiness, of continuing much longer in a situation 
which would subject her to his company. But 
exclusive of any consideration about him, or anxiety 
about Egbert, she began to feel uneasy at the idea 
of being, for any longer period, the guest of Mrs. 
Saville ; in whose manner there was a certain 
something, this evening, so like levity, that Jacin- 
tha felt both shocked and surprised, and rather 
inclined to think that a total change in her prin- 
ciples, as well as circumstances ? had taken place 
since she left Wyeneld. 

Absorbed in unpleasant reflections, Jacintha sat 
at a window remote from the tea-table, pensively 
leaning her head upon her hand, and utterly re- 
gardless of the lively conversation which was go- 
ing forward, and which, at first, seemed to render 
the rest of the party forgetful of her. 

She had not sat long here, however, before she 
was startled by Mr. Loveit, who, approaching her, 
unperceivedjsaid, as he leaned over her chair, in the 
words of Romeo, and in a voice which well ac- 
corded with these words.... 

" Ob, that I were a glove upon that hand, 
" That I might touch that cheek !" 

Jacintha instantly rose, but was prevented mov- 
ing from the window, by Mr. Loveit's catching her 
hand ; who, as he did, declared he envied the per- 
son who had engrossed her thoughts. 



S8 NOCTURNAL VISIT. 

" Then I assure you," said Jacintha, gravely, 
and trying to disengage her hand as she spoke, 
u the person who engrossed my thoughts is not an 
object to excite envy, for they were employed 
about myself." 

" They were employed then," said he, " by the 
same charming object that engrosses mine." 

Jacintha without seeming to notice these words, 
repeated her efforts to free herself. Ere she had 
succeeded, Mrs. Saville suddenly started from a 
sofa, upon which she had been coquetting with 
captain Merton, and ran out of the room, calling 
him after her, under the pretext of deciding a dis- 
pute about a picture in the adjoining room. 

Jacintha, now insisted on Mr. Loveit's releasing 
her hand. 

"Your commands are absolute," cried he, re- 
linquishing it, yet at the same time placing himself 
between her and the door, evidently to oppose her 
leaving him; "the sentiments with which you 
have inspired me, are not less respectful than 
tender. But must I ever expect to see a frown 
upon your brow when I addres you? Must the 
man who feels for you the most 'ardent passion.... 
who would willingly resign his fate, his fortunes, 
into your hands, must he, I say, never hope for any 
thing like condescension from you.. ..for any re- 
laxation of severity?" 

" I must entreat you, sir," said Jacintha, " to 
desist from speaking to me in this manner ; many 
circumstances render your doing so particularly 
disagreeable. 77 

She attempted to pass him as she spoke ; but. 
seizing her hands, he forced her to hear a stir 
further declaration of his passion, essaying even 
art he was master of, to render her propitious tx 



NOCTURNAL VISIT. 99 

it ; till at length Jacintha, indignant and provoked, 
informed him both her heart and hand were en- 
gaged, and protested, if he did not immediately 
suffer her to quit the room, she would call aloud 
to some one to compel him to do so. 

At this threat he released her, and suffered her 
to leave him. She directly repaired to her cham- 
ber, highly incensed at his presumption, as she 
was convinced he knew perfectly well of her 
engagement to Egbert, prior to her speaking on 
the subject ; but still more incensed at the con- 
duct of Mrs. Saville, which had exposed her to it : 
for it was evident to her, she had quitted the 
room, in order to give him an opportunity of 
speaking in the manner he had done. She re- 
solved on remonstrating with her on the impro- 
priety of such conduct,, ^tnd explicitly telling her, 
if she subjected her to disagreeable treatment in 
her house, she entirely did away the obligations 
she had conferred upon her, by receiving her into 
it. She also resolved on not going down -to sup- 
per; or, if possible, to avoid doing so, meeting 
Mr. Loveit again, till she had spoken to her friend 
in the manner she intended. 

This latter resolution, however, she relinquish- 
ed, in consequence of a message from Mrs. Saville, 
declaring, that if she persisted in refusing to come 
■ipper (though she. pleaded a head-ache as a 
jxt for this refusal), she would send one of 
ritlemen to bring her down ; a threat which, 
humour she was in this evening, it was 
not altogether clear to Jacintha she would not put 
into execution ; it accordingly extorted the desired 
compliance from her. She remained silent and 
reserved, however, all the time she was obliged to 
continue at the table ; nor was her manner less 
cool and distant the next morning, at breakfast. 



100 NOCTURNAL VISIT. 

A considerable time elapsed after breakfast, ere 
she could obtain an opportunity of speaking in 
private to Mrs. Saville ; at length, finding she was 
alone in her dressing-room, she repaired to her 
from her chamber, where she had been watching 
for this moment, and found her seated at her toilet, 
looking over some ornaments, which she began to 
collect and put up the instant Jacinth a entered the 
room, as if unwilling she should see them. She 
was not quick enough in her motions, however, to 
prevent Jacintha from accidentally seeing a small 
picture which lay amongst them, so extremely like 
Mr. Falkland, that Jacintha's eyes became rivetted 
to it, and she involuntarily inquired how it had 
come into her possession. 

" What?" demanded Mrs. Saville. 

" This picture," replied Jacintha, taking it from 
the table. 

She turned it as she spoke, and Mr. Falkland's 
initials, in diamonds, at the back, convinced her 
she was not mistaken in supposing it had been 
drawn for him. 

" Oh ! this picture," exclaimed Mrs. Saville, 
eagerly snatching it from Jacintha, and throwing it 

into a box, "why, it was given me by by my 

husband." 

" Your husband !" repeated Jacintha, in extreme 
surprise, and fastening her eyes upon Mrs. Saville. 

" Yes, by my husband," said Mrs. Saville, co- 
louring violently, and betraying the greatest con- 
fusion ; " the gentleman, for whom it was drawn, 
was a relation of his. ...Do you know any thing of 
him?" 

Jacintha informed her she did; and added, with 
a still more scrutinizing look.... 



NOCTURNAL VISIT. I o I 

" No doubt you do also. You visit, to be sure, 
at his house, where, I dare say, your old friend, his 
wife, is happy to pay you every attention." 

" No," replied Mrs. Saville, " I do not. There 
was a coolness between him and Mr. Saville,, 
which prevented any intimacy between our fa- 
milies." 

" A coolness," said Jacintha; " it was odd then 
Mr. Saville should obtain his picture." 

" Oh ! he got it by chance," answered Mrs. 
Saville. " But pray," added she, evidently wish- 
ing to change the subject upon which they were 
conversing, " had you not better prepare yourself 
to take a ride with me this fine day ?" 

" No," said Jacintha, " I have not spirits to go 
out. I feel extremely unhappy, and you must ex- 
cuse me for telling you, you have added to my un- 
happiness." 

Mrs. Saville desired her to explain herself. Ja- 
cintha accordingly did, and entreated her friend 
not to subject her again to the disagreeable de* 
clarations of Mr. Loveit. 

" You really are an enemy to your own happi- 
ness.. ..to your own interest," said Mrs. Saville, 
" in not permitting these declarations to have pro- 
per weight with you. You are rejecting a man 
who adores you.... a man who would place you in 
a most desirable situation, for one who does not, I 
am sure, think of you in the manner you imagine ; 
and who, even if he did, could not, in all probabili- 
ty, from his circumstances, lead you into any thing 
but distress ; and as the poet says.... 

" Why should you be so cruel to yourself, 

«' And to those dainty limbs, which Nature lent 

'* For gentle usage and soft delicacy, 

41 As to encounter difficulties you may avoid ?" 



1 1 r>2 NOCTURNAL VISIT. 

" What reason have you for being certain," 
asked Jacintha, who alone attended to this part of 
her speech, " that Mr. Oswald does not think of 
me in the manner I imagine r" 

"A convincing one," replied Mrs. Saville. " I 
will now tell you, since I find you so obstinately 
bent on sacrificing for his sake your own interest, 
what I did not before care to tell you, that he left 
the play-house in order to avoid you." 

" How !" cried Jacintha, starting. 

" We were scarcely seated," continued Mrs. 
Saville, " ere he entered the adjoining box ; " he 
saw you as plainly as I now see you. It was the 
earnest attention, indeed, with which he regarded 
you, that attracted my notice, and made me watch 
Ills motions, and I clearly perceived by his ac- 
tions, as well, as the circumstance of his quitting 
the box when the pl?ty was drawing towards a con- 
clusion, that he at once wished to gratify his 
curiosity concerning you, and elude your observa- 
tion. What I have told you, I solemnly assure 
you is true." 

" I don't suppose, replied Jacintha, recovering 
from the transientshock she had given her, " that 
you would make any assertion you did not think 
you had some foundation for. But I am also sure," 
added she, with a smile, which spoke her confi- 
dence in Egbert, and the happiness she derived 

from that confidence, " that you are mistaken 

You fancied he saw me ; but that he did in reality, 
I cannot believe. His acknowledging it himself, 
could alone make me believe so. Egbert alone, 
could persuade me of the inconstancy of Egbert." 

" A very short time, I fancy, will prove whether 
I am mistaken or not," said Mrs. Saville. 

" I sincerely hope so," cried Jacintha, with 
fervour. 



'•CYURNAL VISIT. 102 

" Again I assure you," said Mrs. Saville, " I 
am not mistaken. I had oscular demon strati on 
of the truth of what I have asserted ; and I ad- 
vise you in time to withdraw a confidence which 
has been misplaced, and prepare yourself for 
disappointment which awaits you ; for, depend 
upon it, you will find Mr. Oswald is not 
now imagine. There is an old saying, and a true 
one, " that an opp Idom re- 

covered. " Be well advi :, and neglect 

not the opportunity at pres< in your power, 

,of securing to yourself ease, affluence, and inde- 
pendence. ..of guarding yourself from the incon- 
venienciesto which the caprice of your friends might 
again subject you ; for to their caprice, though you 
will not acknowledge so to me, I can clear!) 
your late distressing situation was owing. By ac- 
cepting the protection of Mr. Loveit, you will se- 
cure to yourself all the advantages, the p] 
which Fortune can bestow ; and these too v 
out losing what every woman should be 
to retain.. ..her liberty." 

" Her liberty!" repeated Jacintha. " What, at 
the expence of her honour ?" 

" Honour is a term much used, but little 
derstood," said Mrs. Saville. " I cannot : 
that any one forfeits their hen 
act contrary to their ideas of what is 

" I must hope that you have spoken c< 
to your ideas of what is right/' cried- Jach: 
did I think otherwise. ...did I think it possil 
you countenanced dishonourabl 
a person whom you voluntarily promised to s< 
and protect, I miibt candidly declare 

consideration, should deter me from 
your house immediately." 



J 04 NOCTURNAL VISIT. 

" I was only jesting," said Mrs. Saville, with 
an affected laugh. u The hint which appears to 
have shocked you so much, was purposely dropped, 
to hear what your scrupulous virtue would say to 
It." 

" I cannot consider the virtue'scrupulous," cried 
intna, somewhat indignantly, u which would 
shrink with abhorrence from the meaning it 
seemed intended to, convey. Jesting on moral 
and serious subjects, appears so like levity, that 
every woman of delicacy should carefully avoid 
it ; for it is natural to suppose, when we speak 
lightly, we think lightly." 

" For my part," replied Mrs. Saville, with an 
air of high disdain, ■" I am not so prudish as to 
think there is the least harm in a little jesting. 
You are really quite too rigid in your notions, and 
I must acknowledge, I think 

" Unseemly shews, in blooming youth, 
11 Such grey severity." 

" Not rigid, but steady, I flatter myself," said 

i, rather warmly. " But I see," rising as 

:e, " I prevent you from dressing." 

" Si ville, " I may as well 

bill which I paid for you to the 

people in Oxford-street. It is well I settled 

idiately, or I could not have done so at 

I was yesterday called upon to fulfil an 

ent, which I entered into, to a very con- 

e amount, for a friend. I put off the man, 

r, for a fortnight, by which time I hope 

, . to make up the sum." 

" I am extremely sorry," said Jacintha, " that 

you should have been put to any inconvenience on 

my account." 



NOCTURNAL VISIT. 105 

" Oh ! don't mind it," replied Mrs. Saville ; 
" in the course of a few days, perhaps, you'll be 
able to reimburse me. I exactly wanted what I 
paid for you, to make up the sum which was de- 
manded from me." 

Jacintha took the offered bill, and withdrew to 
her chamber, distressed and disturbed beyond 
expression, at the idea of lying under obligations 
to a person who seemed so solicitous to make her 
feel the full weight of them ; but still more dis- 
tressed and disturbed by the suspicions which be- 
gan to pervade her mind. She began to fear she 
had but escaped one difficulty to be involved in 
another ; and that her present residence was by 
no means an eligible or proper one for her. The 
more she reflected on the recent conversation which 
had passed between her and Mrs. Saville ; the con- 
fusion she had betrayed at the discovery of Falk- 
land's picture ; and the vague and unsatisfactory 
answers her friends|in Wyefield always gave to any 
inquiries that were made after her, notwithstand- 
ing their assertion of her being advantageously 
settled, the more confirmed she became in this 
idea, and consequently convinced she should lose 
no time in extricating herself from her power. 

But how to do so, perplexed and distracted her. 
As she sat revolving the conduct she should pur- 
sue, a servant, who had been particularly ordered 
to attend her, entered the room, and desired to 
know whether she required her assistance to dress 
for dinner ; adding, if she did, she must either 
accept it now, or be without it, as she was going 
away almost immediately. 

Jacintha, scarcely knowing what she said, from 
the perplexity of her thoughts, asked her whither 
she was going ? The girl pertly replied, she was 
u 2 



105 NOCTURNAL VISIT. 

going to leave her place, as her mistress had used 
her extremely ill. 

" People in her situation," said she, with a toss 
of her head, " should be very careful how they 
behave to their servants ; for it is not every one 
would like to live with them ; for my part, nothing 
but being a little embarrassed or so at the time, 
could ever have made me think of such a thing ; 
however, I hope I shan't be thought worse of for 
living with her a few months. " 

Jacintha's attention became awakened at these 
words, and she determined not to lose the present 
opportunity of trying to obtain the information 
and assistance she required. She accordingly 
rose, and having bolted the door, she turned to 
the maid, and entreated her to explain the mean- 
ing of her words, assuring her of her secrecy ; 
and that it was not from curiosity, but the most 
ortant reasons, she desired this explanation. 

The girl readily complied with her entreaty, 
rejoiced to have an opportunity of gratifying her 
malice, by exposing her mistress. She informed 
Jacinth a, that she had never been married ; that 
her elopement from Wyefield was occasioned, not 
by the severity of her friends, but the artifices of 
an officer, whom she had got acquainted with at 
Chester, and who met her in London, where he 
soon after abandoned her ; that shortly after his 
desertion, she was introduced, by means, not ne- 
ary to relate, to the notice of an elderly gen- 
tleman, whose protection she accepted without 
hesitation, and into whose favour she so sue- 
sessfully ingratiated herself, that he not only per- 
mitted her to take his name, but settled a very 
handsome independence upon her. Notwith- 



NOCTURNAL VISIT. 107 

standing this, she . would often have been in- 
volved in very great difficulties, through her va- 
nity and luxurious style of living, but for the large 
additions other gentlemen, but in particular Mr. 
Falkland and Mr. Loveit, had made to her income ; 
both of whom had for some time discarded her, 
and were succeeded by captain Merton. 

" I thought indeed, miss," continued the girl, 
" the moment I saw you, that you were ignorant 
of the circumstances I have related, or you would 
never have taken up your abode in the house of 
such a person." 

" I have indeed been greatly deceived,'-' said Ja- 
cinth a. 

" Aye, so I thought," cried the girl ; " I had 
more than one reason for thinking so." 

Jacintha earnestly conjured her not to conceal 
from her any thing in which she was interested ; 
and, after a little hesitation, she confessed 
having overheard a conversation between Mrs. 
Saville and Mr. Loveit, by which she understood 
that the former laboured at present under some 
pecuniary embarrassments, from which the latter 
had promised to relieve her, provided she pre- 
vailed on Jacintha to accede to his wishes. 

This information rendered Jacintha more anx- 
ious, if possible, than she \ t her 
present abode ; nothing, indeed, but absolute 
compulsion, she determined, should detain her 
in a place where she was so completely in the 
power of two unprincipled beings. She briefly 
explained her situation to the maid, and promised 
to recompense her hereafter, if she would assist 
her in leaving Mrs. Saviiie's jiouse, and procuring 
a residence in some other, no matter how private 



108 NOCTURNAL VISIT. 

or obscure, so it was reputable, until she could 
regain the protection of her friends. 

The girl readily promised what she desired ; 
and it was settled that, as soon as Mrs. Saville 
went out, which she was preparing to do, with the 
gentlemen, Jacintha should leave the house. 
Every thing relative to her intended departure be- 
ing arranged, the maid proposed packing up 
some clothes for her ; Jacintha consented to her 
doing so, and she accordingly made up a large 
bundle of things, from amongst those which Ja« 
cintha had bespoke in Oxford-street, and Mrs. 
Saville paid for. With this bundle she then left 
the room, and Jacintha immediately sat down to 
write a tetter, which she designed leaving upon 
the dressing-table for Mrs. Saville. 

As a reason for quitting the house, she assigned 
the conduct of Mr. Loveit, and the encourage- 
ment she feared it was likely to receive from her. 
She warmly thanked her for her kindness, and 
assured her she would take the earliest oppor- 
tunity that offered for discharging the pecuniary 
obligations she had conferred upon her. 

With a beating heart she saw her treacherous 
friend and the two gentlemen drive from the house, 
and with a still more agitated heart she obeyed 
the summons of her maid. 

The road lay at the rear of the house, and they 
reached it without meeting any one. Jacintha 
was sorry to find her companion had encumbered 
herself with the bundle she had made up, of her 
clothes, as she thought it likely to retard their 
speed ; and till she found lierself in town, she 
felt she could not overcome the apprehensions 
she entertained, of again falling into the power of 
Mrs. Saville and Mr. Loveit. In vain the maid 



NOCTURNAL VISIT. 10# 

endeavoured to obtain a seat in some one of the 
numerous stages that were passing, for her ; they 
were all full, and she reached Piccadilly com- 
pletely tired. Here, as she understood she had 
still a considerable distance to go, she would im- 
mediately have taken a coach, but that she had 
not a shilling to pay for one, and felt unwilling to 
encroach, farther than was absolutely necessary, 
upon the kindness of the maid. 

Slowly and pensively she pursued her way, 
ruminating upon the strange occurrences which 
had placed her in her present unpleasant situa- 
tion. At length she accidentally raised her eyes, 
which had hitherto been bent upon the ground in 
deep meditation, and to her extreme surprise, on 
doing so, missed her companion. She eagerly 
looked on every side for her, but to no purpose* 
She then walked hack part of the way they had 
come, looked up alj the streets she crossed, and 
even ventured to peep into the shops she thought 
there was a likelihood of her having entered, but 
without seeing her ; and, after an hour spent in 
this manner, she was obliged to admit the con- 
viction of her having deserted and deceived her, 
for the purpose of making herself mistress of the 
things she earned. 

This dreadful conviction nearly overpowered 
the faculties of Jacintha, and she leaned, for a 
few minutes, against the palisading of a house, 
unable to move, or even to think how she should 
act in the present emergency. The necessity of 
immediate exertion then became too obvious not 
to stimulate her to make it ; an'd (though after 
the inhumanity she had already experienced in it, 
her feelings revolted from such a measure) she 
resolved on proceeding to the residence of Mrs. 



no *30< \asiT. 

Greviile, where, she flattered herself, by a repre- 
sentation o. could 
scarcely fail of attending- a • night ob- 
tain the succ She also indulged 
a faint hope she n ;elligence 
of Egbert, about ^ r as now convinced, 
no in quir r of Mrs. 
Saville's flier 

Her exhausted spirits were somewheJ; revived 
on reaching Fin: ling Mrs. 

Greviile at home. snt up her name by a 

servant, who returned in a few minutes, and told 
her Mrs. Greviile was so particularly eng: 

could not see her ; nor did she know when 
she would be at leisure to receive her. 

Jacintha, in an agony. at this message, conjured 
the servant to inform Mrs^ Greviile she had the 
most urgent business with her...ebusiness which 
could not be po ; The servant, after a 

little hesitation, complied with her request, and 
soon returning, ushered her up stairs into a superb 
dressing-room, where Mrs. Greviile received her. 

" So, miss Jacintha," said she, with a cool and 
disdainful air, as Jacintha entered the room, 
" pray what is this particular business you have 
with me ?" 

Jacintha sunk, almost fainting, upon a chair, 
and begged for a glass of 

Mrs. Greviile, without shewing the smallest 
degree of feeling, though the pallid and agitated 
looks of Jacintha were well calculated to excite 
pity and tenderness, carelessly > and 

ordered the servant to bring one. ...Jacintha felt a 
little revived on taking it, and then briefly in- 
formed Mrs. Greviile of her present distressing 
situation. 



NOCTURNAL VISIT. 1 1 1 

" Upon my word, miss Jacintha," said Mrs, 
Greville, as soon as she had ceased speaking, 
" you must excuse me for saying that I think there 
is something very strange and mysterious in your 
conduct. I have thought so ever since I last saw 
you. It seems to me extremely odd that you 
should conceal the motive' which made you quit 
Mr. Falkland's ; the manner in which you got 
introduced to the lady, to whose house, in Lan- 
cashire, you have given me to understand you 
went ; but still stranger, that you should conceal 
your residence in town, which you must recollect 
you refused to tell me. But don't imagine I wish 
to discover your secrets. I only hope you may 
be able to give a satisfactory account of your ac- 
tions, to those who may be desirous of knowing 
them. As to interfering in any thing which con- 
cerns you, it is totally out of my power. In the 
first place, I have no acquaintance amongst people 
who keep lodging-houses ; and, in the second, if 
I had, I could not possibly recommend any one 
to them, with whose pursuits and connections I 
have latterly been entirely unacquainted. With 
money I certainly should not have refused accom- 
modating you, but I really have none by me at 
present ; and cannot think of encroaching upon 
the generosity of Mr. Polworth, to which I am 
already highly indebted, by applying to him for 
any ; but I cannot believe you are destitute of 
friends able, as well as willing, to serve you. I 
have too great an opinion of your merit to think 
so. Excuse me for not devoting more of my time 
to you at present. I was about preparing for a 
party at the moment you came ; and, indeed| 
we are now preventing Mrs. Polwortli from dress- 



1 It NOCTURNAL VISIT. 

ing, as she obligingly left this room in order t* 
permit me to receive you in it." 

Had Jacintha been almost certain that death 
awaited her the moment she quited the inhospit- 
able house she was now in, that certainty would 
scarcely have prevented her from obeying the 
dictates of her proud heart, by immediately leav- 
ing it. She rose, in silence, and instantly de- 
scended to the hall, in a state of mind bordering 
on distraction, and with an intention of going 
directly to Mr. Arden's, where she trusted she 
should hear something of Egbert. Should she 
be disappointed.. ..but she would not permit her 
thoughts to dwell upon the possibility of a disap- 
pointment, lest an anticipation of the horrors that 
could scarcely fail of resulting from it, should 
overpower her little remaining strength. 

As she was slowly pursuing her way thither, 
her face nearly shaded by her bonnet, she sud- 
denly started on hearing some one speaking be- 
hind her, whose voice she thought she knew. 
She instantly turned round, and found her ear had 
not deceived her... .it was Woodville, indeed, 
whom she beheld, in company with another gen- 
tleman. 

In a transport of joy she clasped her hands to- 
gether. But how impossible to paint her feelings 
when, instead of finding the pleasure of this un- 
expected meeting mutual, she saw Woodville 
turn from her with a look of contempt, and at- 
tempt to pass on without taking any other notice 
of her. 

u Woodville !" exclaimed Jacintha, with wild- 
ness in her countenance, " Woodville," exclaimed 
she, almost breathless from surprise and con- 
sternation, and laying her trembling hand upon 






NOCTURNAL VISIT. 1 1 3 

his arm as she spoke, " do you mean to aban- 
don me ? Gracious heaven ! Do you know me ? 
Am I altered :" 

" I fear so," said Woodville, emplatically. 

" Explain yourself,'* cried Jacintha, " if you do 
not wish to see me drop at your feet." 

" This is no place for explanation,*' replied 
Woodville, beckoning his companion to leave 
him; " but if you permit me to attend you to 
your residence, I will with pleasure give you any 
explanation you may desire.'* 

" I know not whether I shall shock you or 
not," said Jacintha, " by telling you I have no 
residence. At this moment I know not a house 
to which I could repair, with any certainty of 
being admitted into it." 

The countenance of Woodville convinced her 
she had shocked him by what she had said. He 
remained silent some minutes, and then asked 
Jacintha whether she would promise, if he pro- 
cured her a proper habitation, to reveal the cir- 
cumstances which had placed her in her present 
situation, and submit herself to his guidance. 

" Gracious heaven ! what a doubt does this 
question imply !'* said jfacintha. " Can you sup- 
pose I would have concealments ? Can you sup- 
pose I have any reason for concealments from 
-my friends?" 

Woodville made no reply ; but beckoning to a 
coach, one immediately drew up, into which* he 
handed Jacintha, and following himself, directed 
it to Southampton-street. 

Jacintha was scarcely seated, ere she eagerly 

inquired after Egbert, informing Woodville of her 

ing seen him. Woodville evaded answering 

the inquiry ; and, upon her repeating it, he en- 



1 1 1 NOCTURNAL VISIT. 

treated her to suspend any further interrogatories 
till they had got to the place to which they were 
going. 

The coach stopped before a private house be- 
longing to people well known to Woodville, from 
their having formerly been tenants of his father. 
Here he occasionally lodged, and here he was cer- 
tain Jacintha would receive the attention she 
required. He stepped into it first, in order to 
prepare them for her reception, and then return- 
ing, handed her out, and conducted her up stairs 
to a drawing-room. The mistress of the house 
followed with refreshments; and having desired 
Jacintha to command her services if she required 
them, withdrew. 

Jacintha, with a vehemence, which spoke her 
strong anxiety to have them answered, now re- 
newed her inquiries about Egbert. 

" I cannot answer your inquiries," said Wood- 
ville, " till you have related to me the circunr- 
stances I am so desirous of learning. I have 
particular reasons for not doing so before." 

Hurt and confused by this speech, Jacintha 
continued silent many mjnutes. There v/as a 
something in the manner of Woodville, which 
both alarmed and surprised her ; for, as she con- 
cluded her letter had done away his suspicions, 
she could not account for his present coolness. ..- 
a coolness which, in a .great degree, destroyed 
the pleasure she would otherwise have derived 
from being under his protection. 

" My letter," said she, at length beginning the 
recital he was so anxious to hear, " informed you 
of my motive for quitting the kingdom.", 

" What letter?'' cried Woodville, looking ear^ 
nestly at her, and in an- accent expressive of sur- 
prise. 



NOCTURNAL VISIT. 115 

" The one I wrote to you from Mortlake," re- 
plied Jacintha, " and which miss Woodviile was 
so obliging as to inclose." 

" At what time did you write it?" demanded he. 

Jacintha informed him. Woodviile repeated 
her words ; then resting his head upon his hand, 
he seemed lost in thought some minutes ; after 
which he entreated Jacintha to commence he.* 
narrative, as if she had not written the fetter she 
alluded to. 

Jacintha complied with this entreaty, and gave 
him a circumstantial account of the discovery of 
her birth, and the various incident it had led to. 
Woodviile listened to her with the most profound 
attention, and betrayed extreme agitation during 
her recital. Scarcely had she concluded it, ere 
he wildly started from his chair, and striking his 
hand upon his forehead, uttered some broken and 
indistinct sentences, which increased the alarm 
his preceding conduct had already given to Ja- 
cintha. 

She now conjured him, with the utmost energy 
of voice and manner, to relieve, her anxiety about 
Egbert. 

" Jacintha," said he, suddenly turning to her, 
and clasping her hands between his, "■ I must 
leave you. ...leave you without entering into any 
particulars about Egbert. You must at present 
be satisfied with knowing that he has returned in 
safety. Do not, I conjure you, attempt to detain 
me ; a longer continuance with you, may be pro- 
ductive of the most fa... the most unpleasant con- 
sequences," cried he, as if suddenly recollecting 
himself. 

" Oil Woodviile ! do not leave me in this state 
of torturing suspense!" exclaimed Jacintha.... 



1 16 NOCTURNAL VISIT* 

" Your words have conjured up the most dread- 
ful apprehensions. Something, I am sure, has 
happened to Egbert!" 

" Nothing, I solemnly assure you, has happen- 
ed to him," said Woodville. " Nothing','' adced 
he, in rather an inward voice, " has yet happened, 
I trust, that....But I cannot be more explicit at 
present. In a few days.. ..perhaps a few hours, 
you may see me again. It is for your own sake 
I now hasten from you. Of this be assured, I 
will not return to you without Egbert. Farewell 
The people of the house will do every thing in 
their power to serve and oblige you." 

So saying, he disengaged himself from her, 
and darted out of the room. Jacintha attempted 
to follow him, wrought almost to distraction by 
the fears his mysterious words excited ; but, in 
the attempt, her agitated spirits utterly failed 
her, and she sunk fainting upon the floor, where 
she was found, a few minutes after his departure, 
by the woman of the house ; who, terrified by 
her situation, immediately summoned a neigh- 
bouring apothecary to her assistance. By his 
orders she was conveyed to bed the moment she 
regained her senses, and an opiate was administer- 
ed to her. She awoke in the morning from the 
stupefaction, rather than sleep, into which it had 
thrown her, feverish and unrefreshed. Bat though 
so ill she could scarcely move, her strong anxiety 
to be ready to receive Woodville the moment he 
came (and that he would come in the course of 
the day, she hoped and believed) made her rise. 
The day, however, wore away without bringing 
him, and her disappointment threw her into ago- 
nies almost too great for her to support. 



NOCTURNAL VISIT. 1 1 7 



CHAP. VII. 



" Wild hurrying thoughts 
" Start ev'ry way from my distracted soul, 
" To find out hope, and only meet despair." 

south's fatal, marriage. 



CONTRARY to the advice of the people 
about her, after passing a miserable night, Ja'cin- 
tha rose the next morning, and was supported to 
a sofa in an adjoining apartment. With unspeak- 
able anguish she saw this day, like the preceding 
one, wearing away, without bringing any tidrngs 
of Woodville. 

Towards evening, as the mistress of the house 
sat by her, vainly endeavouring to reason her in- 
to composure, a servant entered the room, and 
informed her there was a woman below wanted 
to speak to her. 

" Who is she?" eagerly demanded Jacintha, 
raising her languid head from the arm of the sofa. 

" She desired me to tell you, miss," replied 
the maid, " that she comes from your friend, Mrs. 
Decourcy." 

"From Mrs. Decourcy!" repeated Jacintha, 
in a joyful accent. " Good heaven ! is it possible ? 
Let her come up directly." 
x2 



118 NOCTURNAL VIS] 

The maid withdrew, and in a few minutes re- 
turned, followed ,by an elderly woman, a total 
stranger to Jacintha. 

" You come from Mrs. Decourcy, you say ?" 
cried Jacintha, rising from her reclining posture, 
and looking earnestly at her. 

The woman curtsied, and said she did. She 
had been hired by Mrs. Decourcy, she said, to 
attend her to Portugal ; from which kingdom she 
and Mr. Decourcy had returnd a few days back, 
and were now at their seat in Hertfordshire, whi- 
ther they impatiently expected Jacintha to follow 
them. 

" Expect me to follow them !" repeated Jacin- 
tha, greatly surprised. 

" Yes, they do indeed, miss," replied the wo- 
man. " I was sent on purpose to bring you down." 
" How did they discover where I was?" asked 
Jacintha, still more surprised. 

" It would require more time to tell you, miss," 
replied the woman, " than I can spare at present : 
for I received orders to leave town this evening; 
and a chaise is now waiting at the door for me, 
in which I trust you will not refuse to accompany 
me." 

Jacintha made no reply : anxious as she was to 
behold her friend, and pleased as she was to hear 
she was again permitted to enjoy her society, she 
fwlt an insurmountable reluctance to leaving town 
in her present state of suspense and incertitude 
about Egbert, especially as she every moment ex- 
pected Woodville. 

Her silence, as well as looks, proclaimed this 
reluctance ; and Mrs. Decourcy's supposed at- 
tendant began to importune her to accompany . 
her to the country. 



NOCTURNAL VISIT.. 1 19 

" Indeed, miss," said she, " I much fear my 
lady will deem it unkind, if you refuse coming to 
her." 

Jacintha sighed deeply. 

" I hope not.. ..nay, 1 am sure she will not," 
cried she, " when she hears how I am situated. 
I every instant expect a gentleman, with intelli- 
gence of the utmost consequence tome." 

" If it is Mr. Woodville you expect, miss," 
said the woman of the house, who, from the in- 
creasing illness of Jacintha, was extremely desir- 
ous of getting rid of her, u you'll be disappointed." 

" What reason have you for supposing so ?"' 
asked Jacintha, in a quick voice, and with a scru- 
tinizing look. 

" A very sufficient one," answered the woman.. 
* I will now tell you what I did not care before 
to. mention, lest you should be still more vexed 
and irritated than you already were... .that an 
event has taken place hi the family of Mr. Wood- 
ville, which, I am sure, will engross him too much, 
for some time, to permit him to think of any thing 
else." 

Jacintha eagerly inquired what was the event 
she alluded to. 

" The marriage of his sister," she replied. 

" I hope she has not married against his appro- 
bation?" asked Jacintha. 

" Why, I don't rightly know, whether she has 
or not," said the woman. " There certainly is 
something strange and sudden in the affair, as 
well as I could learn from a servant of Mrs. Der- 
went's, who called here this morning, and gave 
me an account of it." 

Jacintha, whose own cares never rendered her, 
re^rdless of the happiness of her friends, as in 



120 NOCTURNAL VISIT. 

selfish tempers is too frequently the case, now 
proceeded to make some further and more parti- 
cular inquiries relative to miss Woodville's mar- 
riage, to which, however, she received no satis- 
factory answer ; and being at length convinced, 
from what she heard, that there was no probabi- 
lity of seeing WoodvilJe for many days, and that 
if her present wretchedness could receive any 
alleviation, it would be from the tenderness of 
Mrs. Decourcy, she no longer hesitated about 
going to her. In a few minutes she was ready 
to depart ; and descending to the hall, found a 
chaise and four waiting at the door, into which 
she immediately stepped. She left a message for 
Woodville, with the woman of the house, conjur- 
ing him not to delay giving her the information 
she required. 

As soon as the chaise drove from the door, she 
again inquired by what means she had been trac- 
ed to her late residence, and had her curiosity 
fully satisfied. After receiving the particulars 
she was desirous of learning, she spoke but little 
to her companion. Her indisposition of body and 
mind every hour increased. The more she re- 
flected upon the words of Woodville, the more 
firmly convinced she was that Egbert was in some 
unpleasant situation, and she almost repented 
having left town. 

By the time they reached Barnet, the evening 
was so far advanced, and she appeared so exhaust- 
ed, that her companion proposed their continuing 
there that night.. ..a proposal to which Jacintha 
made no objection. She was not, however, at all 
better, when she rose in the morning, to pursue 
her journey. 



NOCTURNAL VISIT. 1 2 1 

Absorbed in melancholy reflections, she leaned 
against the side of the chaise, utterly regardless 
of external objects ; till, beginning to think they 
were a very unusual time in going from Barnet 
to Beech-Grove, she looked up, and perceived 
they were upon a road utterly unknown to her. 
She observed this to her companion, who, after a 
little hesitation, said the postillion had certainly 
missed his way. This he acknowledged, on her 
calling to him, but said he should soon regain the 
right road. 

Jacintha looked in vain, however, for objects 
familiar to her, and, in the course of an hour, to 
her great surprise, perceived they were entering 
a small town. Ere she could well express this 
surprise, the chaise stopped before an inn, and 
the postillion alighting, came to the door, and 
entreated the ladies to pardon his error, confess- 
ing he had come much farther out of his way 
than he had at first imagined, and could not pro- 
ceed without changing horses. 

Jacintha's companion chid him for his careless- 
ness, and bade h£m be as expeditious as possible. 
In a few minutes they again set off, and Jacintha 
now flattered herself, in a very short time, she 
should be in the arms of her friend. They tra- 
velled mile after mile, however, without entering 
upon the road she looked for ; and when she saw 
the day declining, without having reached, or 
even appearing to be near the end of her journey, 
she became seriously alarmed, and entreated her 
companion to make the postillion stop at the first 
inn they came to, that they might change him 
for one acquainted with the way they wanted to 
go. 

" He has not gone wrong," replied the woman. 



1 22 NOCTURNAL VISIT. 

" Not gone wrong ! ,; repeated Jacintha. " Why 
he appears going further and further from Beech- 
Grove every minute." 

" Certainly," said the woman, " and in so do- 
ing, he only obeys his directions. You are not 
going to Beech-Grove." 

" Not going to Beech-Grove !" cried Jacintha, 
with the utmost wildness in her looks. " Whither 
then am I going ?" 

"To happiness, if it is not your own fault.*' 

Jacintha, yielding to her feelings, without con- 
sidering how very improbable it was that a person 
who appeared so evidently in the plot against 
her, would give her the assistance she required, 
now attempted to let down the front glass, in 
order to call to the postillion to stop. This she 
was prevented doing, however, by her companion, 
who, rudely seizing her hands, declared, in a stern 
voice, if she was not quiet and passive, she would 
inevitably draw upon herself treatment she could 
not at all like. 

" Opposition," added she, " can only be pro- 
ductive of violence. I advise you, therefore, to 
be resigned to your present situation, particularly 
as I assure you^ no efforts you can make, will 
liberate you from it." 

Jacintha endeavoured to support her almost 
fainting spirits, and reason with her companion, 
upon the enormity of her present conduct. She 
represented to her, in the most forcible language [ 
she could use, the consequences that could not 
fail of resulting from a perseverance in it ; and 
conjured her to let her return to the place from 
which she had inveighled her, solemnly assuring 
her if she did, she would never mention 
thing that could injure her. 






NOCTURNAL VISIT. 1*3 

Pier remonstrances, threats, and entreaties, 
were alike unavailing ; and in her agony ami dis- 
traction at finding them so, she at length shrieked 
aloud ; and after a fruitless effort to disengage 
her hands, sunk senseless against the back of the 
chaise. 

When she recovered, she found herself in a 
chamber, supported by the woman who had tra- 
velled with her, whilst another, about the same 
age, administered restoratives to her. Jacintha, 
concluding she was in an inn, and that this per- 
son, who was so busy in trying to recover her, 
Was the mistress of it, began to supplicate her 
interference and assistance. Her supplications 
were soon put a stop to, by the woman's coolly 
telling her she was the particular friend of the 
person whom she had travelled with, and that 
the house she was then in was a private one, be- 
longing to her. 

Jacintha, on hearing this, wildly demanded 
whether they had then reached their destination? 
She was answered in the negative, and also in- 
formed, that they had a long, long journey be- 
fore them. She felt somewhat revived by this 
information, as she indulged a hope of being able 
to procure upon the road the succour she requir- 
ed. The woman forced her to lay dowa upon a 
bed, and take some refreshment. After resting 
two hours, they told her she must rise, and re- 
commence her journey. With augmented terror, 
she found the woman of the house was to accom- 
pany them the remainder of the way ; she still, 
however, endeavoured to support her spirits, with 
a hope of being able to make some successful 
exertion. 



124 NOCTURNAL VISIT. 

This hope, however, the vigilance and precau- 
tion of her companions defeated. Whenever a 
carriage approached, they drew up the blinds ; 
seldom stopped, and never except at poor and 
lonely houses, where the tale they told prevented 
any attention from being paid to the supplica- 
tions which Jacintha sometimes, in spite of their 
threats, addressed to the people. She was repre- 
sented as a young person labouring under insanity, 
whom her friends in Scotland were solicitous of 
having again under their own immediate care, on 
finding nothing could be done for her in London. 

Despair at length succeeded to hope, on finding 
all her efforts to free herself from the machina- 
tions of Mr- Loveit, whom she accused of being 
the contriver of the present scheme against her, 
unsuccessful. The agitation of her mind increas- 
ed her fever, and she was oft3n so exhausted, 
that she could neither speak nor move ; but, not- 
withstanding her alarming situation, her compa- 
nions persisted in pursuing their journey without 
intermission ; paying to her illness, however, in 
every other respect, every possible attention.... 
They positively refused letting her know whither 
they were going, but neither denied nor acknow- 
ledged being employed by Mr. Loveit. 

After being many days and nights upon the 
road, the chaise stopped one evening before a 
lonely house, surrounded by a wild and moun- 
tainous country, and Jacintha was informed she 
had reached the end of her journey. 

Jacintha sighed deeply, but could not speak. 
She felt as if she was dying ; and in this hour of 
languor and depression, she scarcely regretted 
this feeling. Abandoned by her parents ; appre- 
hensive about the welfare of the man she loved, 



NOCTURNAL VISIT. 125 

and whose destiny, If wretched, she had no means 
of alleviating ; beset on every side with difficul- 
ties and dangers, she thought it would be a for- 
tunate circumstance for her to be taken from a 
world, in which she had vainly sought for happi- 
ness. ..a world in which, like poor Orlando, she 
had nothing ; and in which, like him, she thought 
she only filled up a place which might be better 
supplied when she had made it empty. 

An elderly man came from the house as soon 
as the chaise had stopped, and she was carried 
into it more dead than alive. Drops were imme- 
diately administered to her, and, in a few minutes 
she began to revive ; but scarcely had she opened 
her eyes, ere she closed them again, with a shud- 
dering sensation of horror and disgust, on seeing 
Mr. Loveit enter the parlour. 

He dismissed every person from it, but the 
woman who had been the immediate instrument 
of his treachery, and then, with the utmost humi- 
lity, endeavoured to depreciate the just resentment 
with which his conduct had inspired Jacintha. He 
pleaded the violence of his passion as an extenu- 
ation of it, and assured her he should consider his 
fortune as a poor equivalent for her favour. 

Jacintha at first revolted against speaking to 
him ; but, upon consideration, she thought it 
would not be adviseable to lose an opportunity, 
like the present, of trying to make an appeal to 
his reason. Curbing, therefore, the indignation 
his language excited, she represented to him how 
much he had to fear from her friends, and how 
little he had to hope from her. She advised him, 
as much for his own sake as hers, no longer to 
detain her, as it could only be productive of trou- 
ble and uneasiness to him ; her heart and hand 

Y 



126 NOCTURNAL VISIT. 

being both so firmly engaged to another, that 
even if his addresses were as honourable as they 
were the reverse, she would reject them. 

Time often effected wonders, Mr. Loveit said, 
and to time he trusted his cause. Jaciatha, overpow- 
ered by the exertions she had made, or rather her 
disappointment at finding that exertion unavailing, 
relapsed into a state of insensibility, and in this 
situation was conveyed to a chamber. They were 
compelled to summon medical aid to her assist- 
ance, and serious apprehensions were entertained 
for her safety. How Mr. Loveit contrived to get 
her into his power, now requires explanation. 

Though the accident which befel her in the 
city, was occasioned by the carelessness of his 
coachman, it was not this circumstance, neither 
humanity, but solely admiration, which induced 
him to offer her his assistance. He endeavoured, 
though vainly, as has been already mentioned, 
to commence an acquaintance with her, and felt 
not only disappointed, but mortified, at the repul- 
sive coldness with which she treated him. 

About two hours after they had parted, as he 
was sauntering through St. James's Park, rumi- 
nating on her idea, and fervently wishing she 
might again be thrown in his way, he accidentally 
met Mrs. Saville, who, though once a great fa- 
vourite, was now entirely discarded by him, as he 
was not more unprincipled than inconstant in bis 
disposition ; but, though indifferent to him, he 
was too gallant to decline conversing with her. 

In the course of their conversation, he mention- 
ed the lovely stranger who now engrossed his 
thoughts. Whilst describing her beauty in the 
most impassioned language, he was interrupted 
by a sudden exclamation from Mrs. Saville, occa- 



NOCTURNAL VISIT. 127 

sioned by her surprise at unexpectedly beholding 
Jacintha. 

Mr. Loveit's eyes followed the direction of 
hers ; and it would be difficult to delermine whe- 
ther joy or astonishment was most predominant 
in his mind, at finding his charming unknown 
was a particular friend of Mrs. Saville's, for such 
that lady declared her to be. This declaration, 
together with the distress too evident in the looks 
of Jacintha, inspired him with the most sanguine 
hopes of succeeding in any designs he might form 
against her. 

Mrs. Saville, in consequence of her unbounded 
extravagance, was, at this time, involved in very 
great difficulties. As she was hastening to Jacin- 
tha, Mr. Loveit caught her by the arm, and draw- 
ing her aside, told her he would bind himself in 
any manner she pleased, to free her from these 
difficulties, provided she promised to exert herself 
in his behalf with her lovely friend, and bring her 
to accede to his wishes. Mrs. Saville readily 
promised all he desired. How she drew the un- 
suspecting Jacintha into his power, has already 
been related. 

Soon convinced that neither her arguments, 
nor the eloquence of Mr. Loveit, would be able 
to make any favourable impression upon the mind 
of Jacintha. it was agreed, that other measures, 
such as the law gave her an opportunity of using, 
in consequence of the large sum she had paid for 
Jacintha, should be pursued, in order to try and 
force her to act in the manner that was wished ; 
measures which, in all probability, would have 
driven {he unhappy Jacintha to distraction, and 
which were only prevented by her fortunate es* 
c :.pe from the house of Mrs, Saville* 



128 NOCTURNAL VISIT. 

Her being able to effect this escape, was at once 
attributed to the assistance of the discharged 
maid, after whom an immediate search was ac- 
cordingly set on foot. One of the servants, well 
acquainted with her haunts, soon discovered, and 
drew from her every particular necessary to be 
known relative to Jacintha. Unluckily the house 
in which she sought an asylum, after the cruel 
deception and treachery she had practised, was 
exactly opposite the cue to which Woodville had 
conveyed Jacintha. 

Informed of her residence, and of her being at 
present amongst strangers^ which the maid had 
found means of learning, Mrs. Saville and Mr. 
Loveit soon contrived a scheme for getting her 
again into their power. On regaining her, a 
lonely house of Mr. Loveit's, in the Highlands of 
Scotland, which had often before answered the 
purposes of vice, was appointed for her reception. 
There Mr. Loveit hoped to triumph over that 
innocence which, had he been endued with the 
smallest particle of honour or humanity, it would 
have been his pride, his glory, to have protected. 



NOCTURNAL VISIT. 129 



CHAP. VIII. 



: Words would but wrong the gratitude I owe you, 
! Should I begin to speak ; my soul's so full, 
That I should talk of nothing else all day." 

otway's orphan. 



JACINTH A continued a week dangerous- 
ly ill, and often insensible to surrounding objects. 
At the expiration of this period her disorder took 
a favourable turn, she regained her perception, 
and began slowly to recover. With returning 
health her strength of mind increased. Instead 
of yielding any longer to despair, which in her, 
she now began to reflect, would be particularly 
inexcusable, after the many instances she had re- 
ceived of the goodness and protection of Provi- 
dence, she endeavoured to support her spirits, in 
order to be enabled to make such exertions as, in 
her present situation, were necessary. 

From this situation she saw no other method 
of freeing herself, but by interesting some person 
about her in her behalf. She despaired of suc- 
ceeding with any of the attendants. After some 
deliberation, therefore, she resolved on making 
an appplication to the physician who attended her, 
an elderly man, of gentle manners and prepos- 
sessing appearance ; and whose looks, she thought, 
seemed expressive of regret for the errors which, 
y 2 



1 30 NOCTURNAL VISIT. 

it was natural to suppose, from her being the 
guest of Mr, Loveit, she had been led into. 

The day after she sat up, she contrived to find 
an opportunity of writing a few lines with a pen- 
cil, upon the back of a letter which she found in 
her pocket, explanatory of her situation, and con- 
juring him, as a man of honour and feeling, to 
rescue her from it. She slipped it into his hand, 
without being observed, as he sat by her ; and 
received a look in return, which seemed to say,-* 
its contents would be attended to. 

She became all impatience and anxiety for the 
next day ; it came, however, without bringing to 
Jacintha the comfort she expected. The hour in 
which she usually received a visit from the doctor 
arrived, without his making his appearance ; and 
when she at length ventured to express her sur- 
prise at not having seen him, she learned he had 
sent a message early in the morning, to inform 
her he could not call upon her that day ; nor, per- 
haps, for one or two more, in consequence of his 
being obliged to go to some distance, upon a case 
of very great emergency. 

Jacintha felt rather alarmed by this message ; 
she endeavoured, however, to hope the best, and 
tried to recompense herself by reflecting, that a 
very short time, m all probability, would termi- 
nate her suspense. She felt so ill, in consequence 
of the agitation she experienced this day, that 
towards evening she was obliged to lie down. She 
was just beginning to obtain the repose she so 
much needed, when she was startled by some one 
touching her hand. She started from her pillow, 
and beheld a young woman standing beside the 
bed, whom she had never before seen. 



NOCTURNAL VISIT 131 

Jacintha looked wildly at her, and then round 
the chamber, and found her usual attendants had 
taken the opportunity of her being asleep, to leave 
it. She again turned her inquiring eyes upon the 
stranger, who, without speaking, drew a letter 
from her bosom, and put it into Jacintha's hand ; 
then, with a look which seemed to enjoin her to 
silence, she hastily quitted the chamber, and gent- 
ly closed the door after her. 

Jacintha's heart throbbed with hope and expec- 
tation as she eagerly opened the letter, which 
contained the following lines : 

" I am happy to find I was mistaken, with re- 
gard to you, and that I have been able to render 
you the service you require. An honourable lady 
in the neighbourhood, to whom I applied in your 
behalf, has promised to protect you, till you are 
restored to the friends from whom you have been 
so basely inveigled. To-night, the bearer of this 
letter (as soon as you can find a convenient op- 
portunity for quitting your chamber) will give 
you any assistance you may require, in getting to 
your sincere friend, and 

" WELL-WISHER. 

" Remember, the utmost caution is necessary, 
as I have particular reasons for not wishing to 
appear in the affair." 

Jacintha's transports, on perusing this thrice 
welcome letter, were too great for description ; an 
approaching step, however, made her endeavour 
to moderate them, lest they should be discovered, 
and give rise to suspicions, that might defeat the 
schemes formed for her deliverance. She had but 
just concealed the letter, when the woman? who 



132 NOCTURNAL VISIT. 

generally attended her, entered. This woman, 
now that Jacintha was beginning to recover, in- 
stead of sitting up with her, slept in a closet 
adjoining the chamber. Jacintha, in hopes she 
would follow her example, and thus give her an 
early opportunity of effecting her escape, pre- 
tended to be uncommonly drowsy this evening, 
and retired to rest earlier than usual. 

According to her expectations, the other did 
the same. As soon as Jacintha had reason to think 
she was asleep, she left her bed, and dressing her- 
self with as much expedition as she could use, 
stole to the chamber-door, to listen whether all 
was quiet within the house. After standing seve- 
ral minutes here, without hearing the smallest 
noise, she ventured to open the door, and advance 
to the head of the stairs ; but here she stopped, 
trembling, and irresolute whether she should pro- 
ceed or retreat. 

As she leaned, in almost breathless agitation, 
against the banisters, a light, suddenly glimmer- 
ing below, made her look over them, and she saw 
the young woman who was to assist her escape, 
in the hall. Jacintha's courage returned on be- 
holding her, and she immediately descended the 
stairs. 

On hearing her approach, the young woman 
held up her hand to motion her to silence ; and 
stepping softly to the hall-door, opened it for her. 
To her extreme joy, Jacintha found the good 
doctor within a few paces of it. He threw a plaid 
over her, to protect her from the night air, and 
hurried her to a chaise in waiting at a little dis- 
tance. 

As soon as Jacintha's agitation had subsided, 
sufficiently to permit her to speak, she returned 



NOCTURNAL VISIT. 1315 

her grateful acknowledgments for the services he 
had rendered her. In reply, he declared himself 
truly happy in being instrumental in rescuing her 
from the dangerous situation she was in, and plac- 
ing her in one, where she would experience not 
only protection, but tenderness. He informed 
her, the young woman who had aided her escape, 
was an under-servant of Mr. Loveit, whom he 
had prevailed upon to second his intentions, by 
means that are generally successful ; and then 
proceeded to ask a few questions about Jacintha's 
connections, which she answered in as brief and 
explanatory a manner as possible. 

They travelled expeditiously, and, in the course 
of an hour, reached the gate of what, as well as 
Jacinth a could discern by the imperfect light 
which now prevailed, appeared to be an ancient 
and extensive edifice. 

On the stopping of the chaise, the gate was in- 
stantly opened, and the doctor alighting, handed 
out Jacintha, and led her into a spacious court. 
Here, beside the old porter, who had given them 
admission, she saw an elderly woman standing, 
into whose hand the doctor put hers, and bade her 
farewel. She was then conducted to a remote 
door in the building ; and, after ascending a pri- 
vate staircase, and passing through many passages, 
she found herself in a magnificent chamber, where 
an elderly lady, of a gracious and benignant as- 
d and welcomed her. She inter- 
id Jacintha's fervent acknowledgments for 
generous kindness, by sayings she had but 
ly performed her duty, in serving a suffering 
.Docent fellow-creature. 

i on her taking some refreshment, 
and retiring immediately to rest, as she saw she 



134 NOCTURNAL VISIT. 

was ready to sink from languor and fatigue. Ac- 
cordingly, in a few minutes, Jacintha was shewn 
into an interior chamber, where she was assisted 
to undress, by the attendant, who had been her 
conductress to the lady, and where she soon sunk 
into the repose she needed. 

When she awoke in the morning, she found her 
standing beside the bed, earnestly regarding her. 
All that had passed seemed like a dream to Ja- 
cintha, and she started with wildness from her 
pillow, at beholding a stranger. A few words, 
however, served to recompose her, and rising, 
she dressed herself, and was conducted through 
the outer- chamber to a dressing-room, where her 
protectress sat, by whom she was received with 
the utmost kindness. 

The manner in which she had been drawn into 
her late perilous situation, was now particularly 
inquired into, but not more particularly inquired 
into than related. Jacintha gave a clear, though 
succinct account of the manner in which she be- 
came acquainted with Mr. Loveit, and the arts he 
had used to deceive and betray her. 

The lady appeared violently agitated, as she 
listened to her, and frequently shed tears. Jacin- 
tha was greatly surprised, at the emotions she 
betrayed, which seemed to her to be caused by 
something more than common feeling, for the 
wrongs of a stranger. As soon as her little nar- 
rative was finished, the lady rose, and in a voice 
scarcely articulate, told Jacintha she had impor- 
tant reasons for not wishing to have it known 
she had taken her under her protection, conse- 
quently, she could not pay her all that attention, 
or treat her altogether in the manner she was 
certain she merited. Jacintha said every thing 



NOCTURNAL VISIT. 1 55 

that was proper upon the occasion ; and the lady- 
quitted the room, in order to breakfast with her 
family, leaving Jacintha to the care of her woman. 

And now the cause of her agitation was ex- 
plained. As Jacintha cast her eyes around the 
room, whilst breakfast was preparing for her, 
they accidentally glanced upon a large portrait, 
which immediately fixed her attention, from the 
striking resemblance it bore to Mr. Loveit. Upon 
observing this to the attendant, she regarded her 
for some minutes with an earnest look, and then 
said, 

" You are not mistaken, young lady, in think- 
ing it like him. It was drawn for Mr. Loveit, as 
you call him/' 

" As I call him I" cried Jacintha* " What, is 
not Loveit then his real name t*' 

The woman shook her head, but made no re- 
ply. Jacintha's curiosity now became so strongly 
excited, that she could not rest without having 
it gratified ; she therefore pressed her question 
upon the woman, who, after a little hesitation, 
said, 

u I see no harm in 'telling you what, by some 
means or other, you would sooner or later, in all 
probability, discover. Loveit is not the name of 
the person who has acted so vile a part towards 
you ; his real name is Sinclair, and he is husband 
to the lady who has afforded you her protection." 

" Good heaven !" exclaimed Jacintha, inex- 
pressibly shocked by this information ; " had I 
known this, I should not have inveighed so bit- 
terly against him." 

" His actions speak so forcibly against him," 
said the woman, " that it matters not in what 
terms they are mentioned. He is a bad character 



136 NOCTURNAL VISIT. 

in every respect, and has behaved cruelly to a 
most excellent wife." 

" I am concerned to think she feels his conduct 
so sensibly." 

" She does indeed," replied the woman, " but 
without resenting it. It is her constant study to 
conceal his enormities from his friends." 

" I am surprised the doctor should think of ap- 
plying to her in my behalf," said Jacintha, " as 
he could not be ignorant of the severe wound a 
husband's baseness gives to a feeling heart." 

" True," replied the woman, u but the doctor, 
though a good man, studies his own interest ; and 
he well knew, that nothing could oblige my lady 
more, than giving her an opportunity of defeating 
any villainy of her husband's. Should he ever 
discover she has been instrumental in defeating 
his designs against you, Ijremble tojthink of what 
he may make her suffer ; for he is violent and 
revengeful in the extreme. It is in order to avoid 
incurring his resentment, as well as >o prevent 
his baseness from being known to his brother, 
lord Endermay (his opposite in every respect), 
that she wishes to conceal your being under her 
care." 

" Lord Endermay !" repeated Jacintha, wildly 
starting from her chair, u his brother ! Am I 
then beneath the roof of lord Endermay ?" 

" Yes," said the woman, looking aghast, and 
retreating a few paces. " Do you know any thing 
of his lordship ?....or have you any reason to be 
alarmed at h urself beneath his roof?" 

" No," replied Jacintha, recollecting herself, 
and sinking into her chair almost breathless, from 
the emotion caused by what she had heard. " No, 



NOCTURNAL VISIT. 1 37 

I know nothing of his lordship. I have no reason 
to be uneasy at finding myself in his house." 

" You really frightened me," cried her compa- 
nion, again approaching the table. " I thought 
you had heard something." 

Jacintha, fearful of conversing upon the subject, 
lest it should lead her to betray what she was so 
solemnly bound to conceal, checked the inquiries 
which her heart dictated, and began to ask some 
questions totally foreign to it. . She was inatten- 
tive, however, to the answers she received. The 
sufferings of the unfortunate lady Endermay 
(which her own had, in some degree, banished 
from her mind), thus unexpectedly revived with- 
in it, engrossed neV thoughts almost entirely. 
She represented to herself the vain expectation, 
which the unhappy woman indulged of regaining 
her liberty...the anguish she would suffer when 
she found they were deceitful. She pictured her 
in the last agonies of expiring nature, without a 
friend to sooth her.*without a sympathetic bosoifi 
to repose upon ; groaning beneath misery and 
disappointment, and accusing her (Jacintha) of 
having increased her sorrows, and helped to aug- 
ment a burden before too grievous. 

With difficulty Jacintha forbore weeping aloud, 
at these mournful suggestions of her fancy. She 
Saw, however, she was narrowly watched, and she 
'endeavoured, on that account^ to controul her 
emotions. 

Mrs. Sinclair returned soon after breakfast, 
composed, but with a dejection, both in her look& 
and manner, w T hich spoke the sorrow? of her 
heart. She began to question Jacintha about her 
connections, with a minuteness which 'somewhat 



138 NOCTURNAL VISIT. 

surprised her. Her looks were expressive of this 
surprise ; and Mrs. Sinclair, appearing suddenly 
to recollect herself, apologized for the curiosity 
she had betrayed, which she declared was owing 
to the striking resemblance Jacintha bore to a 
lady she had formerly known and tenderly loved. 
" I should like to know who the lady was," 
said Jacintha, involuntarily, " for this observation 
has been made before." 

" Ah!" cried Mrs. Sinclair, with quickness, 
" I know who made it ; it was Mr. Loveit. Yes, 
the likeness indeed must forcibly have struck him ; 
be yourself a judge of it." 

So saying, she took from her bosom a small 
miniature, and presented it to Jacintha. Jacin- 
tha examined it attentively, with a confused idea 
of having somewhere seen, independent of herself, 
a person whom it resembled. While she was 
endeavouring to recal this person to her recollec- 
tion, she accidentally turned the picture, and 
perceived upon the back of it, " E. E." That it 
was drawn for lady Endermay, now instantly oc- 
curred to her; and a feeling not to be described, 
and which she could not account for, agitated her 
soul, at finding she so strikingly resembled this 
unhappy woman. Some strange ideas started in 
her mind, which she quickly, however, endea- 
voured to banish, as the wild suggestions of a dis- 
tempered imagination. 

She returned the picture in silence to Mrs. 
Sinclair, and exerted herself to hide the emotions 
it had caused. It was evident to her, that Mrs. 
Sinclair was the friend of lady Endermay, and 
consequently ignorant of her destiny ; certain, 
therefore, from these circumstances, that was it 
revealed to her, she would take immediate mea- 



NOCTURNAL VISIT. Is* 

sures to redress the poor sufferer, the secret rela- 
tive to her trembled upon the lips of Jacintha, and 
was with difficulty prevented bursting from them. 
She was compelled to dwell upon the solemn vow 
she had taken to preserve it inviolate. ...upon the 
miseries she was told she should doom an inno- 
cent fellow-creature to, by disclosing it, in order to 
prevent herself from yielding to the impulse of 
humanity ; and, with a flood of tears she again 
resigned the unhappy lady Endermay to her fate. 

Those tears, which Mrs. Sinclair imputed to 
her own sorrows, called forth all her tenderness, 
and she repeated her assurances of protection to 
Jacintha, till she was again safe under that of her 
own friends. 

As soon as Jacintha was composed, she wrote 
an explanatory letter to Woodville,' conjuring 
him, in the most earnest terms, not to delay tak- 
ing her from her present situation, and relieving 
her anxiety about Egbert. This letter she in- 
closed in one to the woman from whose house she 
had been inveigled, with an entreaty not to let 
any time be lost in having it delivered to Mr. 
Woodville. 

Mrs. Sinclair again spoke of the important 
reasons she had (though without explaining why) 
for wishing to conceal Jacintha's being under her 
care, in consequence of which, she was under a 
necessity of removing her to a remote part of the 
castle ; as it would be utterly impossible to conceal 
her being a resident in it, was she to remain in 
the apartments she then occupied. On the same 
account, she added, it would be utterly out of her 
power to visit her. She expressed the deepest 
regret at being cempelled to act in this manner ; 
and said, at some future time she hoped she should 



1 40 NGCTUHNAL VISIT,. 

have a™ opportunity of endeavouring to remove 
the prejudice, which, she feared', it might excite 
in Jaeintha's breast against her. 

Jacintha, acquainted with her motives for this 
conduct, assured her to the contrary, and £hat 
nothing could cancel the obligations she had con- 
ferred upon her. Towards the decline of evening, 
Jacintha was conducted in silence by Agnes, Mrs. 
Sinclair's woman, to the part of the castle she 
was to occupy. After traversing several spacious, 
though forlorn galleries, they entered a narrow 
dark passage, terminating in a heavy door, which 
Agnes having cautiously unlocked, ushered them 
into a Gothic apartment, in which was a dark 
closet that served as a bed-chamber. A good lire 
id in this room, and Jacintha found refresh- 
ments prr. /ided for her, besides books, paper, ink 
x;nd pens, to amuse her solitude. 

Though these apartments had not been inha- 
bited for a long while, Agnes assured her she 
need not fear their being damp, as her mistress. 
and she had contrived to air them well, and had 
also brought hither a well aired bed and bed- 
clothes. She mentioned the hours at which she 
thought she should be able to visit Jacintha in 
the daytime, and desired her freely to ask for any 
thing she required. 

Jacintha requested to know what she should do 
if any one wandered this way. Agnes told her 
she would take, care to guard her from intrusion, 
by keeping the key of the outer door herself. 
Though, was it to remain within it, she added, 
there would be but little danger of her being dis^ 
turbed, as few of the inhabitants of the castle ever 
visited this part of it. 



NOCTURNAL VISIT. * I * 

A sradl door in a corner of the room attracted 
Jacintha's attention, and she desired to know whi- 
ther it led. Agnes informed her, to a very ancient 
tower, long since consigned to decay. 

She remained with her a few minutes, and then 
bade her good night, Jacintha listened attentive- 
ly to her receding steps, and heard her securing 
the outer doer with rather an unpleasant sensa- 
tion, at finding herself thus locked up, and remote 
from the inhabited part of the mansion., This 
sensation naturally led to reflections upon the 
strange occurrences which had placed her in her 
present situation. From her own misfortunes, by 
degrees, her thoughts reverted to those of lady 
Endermay ; and ag'ain such mournful images rose 
in her mind, as made her hastily retire to bed, in 
hopes of losing them in sleep., Her sleeping 
thoughts, however, were not happier than her 
"waking ones* Frightful dreams tormented and 
harassed her, and she rejoiced when the return of 
day-light permitted her to rise. 

Agnes came sooner than she expected, to pre- 
pare her breakfast. Her extreme languor and 
dejection did not escape her notice, and she ea- 
gerly inquired how she had rested. Jacintha re- 
plied, " Very badly." 

" Nothing happened to disturb your rest, I hope," 
said x\gnes, with involuntary quickness. 

" Happened," repeated Jacintha, " what could 
happen ? No, nothing disturbed my rest but my 
own unhappy thoughts." 

While at breakfast, she ventured to make some 
inquiries concerning lord Endermay and his fa- 
mily, which Agnes answered in a most iinsa 
factory and reluctant manner, and Jacintha 
cordingly determined not to repeat them. Agnes 



142 NOCTURNA VISIT. 

staid but a short time with her. She visited her 
again, in the course of the day, with her dinner, 
and then left her to a solitude which was more 
irksome than solitude had ever before been to her, 
from the anxiety and dejection under which she 
laboured. 



NOCTURNAL VISIT. H3 



CHAP. IX. 



** *Tis night; the season when the happy take 

81 Repose, and only wretches are awake : 

" Now discontented ghosts begin their rounds, 

*' Haunt rnin'd buildings, and unwholesome grounds ; 

" Or at the curtains of the restless wait, 

" To frighten them with some sad tale of fate." 

OTWAY'S DON CARLOS. 



FATIGUED, both in body and mind, 
Jacintha, retired early to rest, and soon fell asleep. 
From this sleep she was suddenly startled by a 
strong light flashing upon her eyes. It vanished, 
however, with such quickness, that she was led 
to believe it was an illusion of her imagination ; 
and after listening for some minutes, without 
hearing any other noise than that of the wind, 
howling without the windows, she again yielded 
to the uncommon drowsiness which oppressed 
her. 

The next day passed as the preceding one had 
done. Agnes merely visited her for the purpose 
of bringing her meals to her ; and, tortured as 
she was by incertitude about those she loved, it 
required the exertion of ail the philosophy she was 
mistress of, to support, with any degree of forti- 
tude, her present situation. \ She endeavoured to 
divert her thoughts by reading, but too often 
found it impossible to do so. 



lU NOCTURNAL VISfT. 

The third night of her confinement she was 
again startled from an uneasy slumber by a light 
glaring upon her eyes, which had scarcely awoke 
her, however, ere it disappeared ; but notwith- 
standing the quickness with which it vanished, 
Jacintha could not now, as she had done before, 
believe herself deceived by her imagination, and 
she became alarmed and agitated. Her mind, 
weakened by illness and sorrow, could make but 
little resistance against the influence of terror* 
and a number of unpleasant ideas started in it. 

She mentioned the incident which had alarmed 
her, to Agnes, the next morning. Agnes listened 
to her with profound attention, and appeared, for 
several minutes after she had ceased speaking, 
lost in thought ; then, as if suddenly recollecting 
herself, she affected to laugh at what she had 
heard, and told Jacintha she had been dreaming* 
Jacintha was positive she had not been dreaming 
at the time she started from her sleep ; but as she 
knew an illness like that she was recovering from, 
often rendered people weak and fanciful, she did 
not persist in attesting the reality of what she had 
seen. 

But, though again inclined to believe her ima- 
gination had deceived her, she became greatly 
agitated as night approached, and could not sleep 
for a considerable time after she went to bed. 
The night, however, passed away without any 
thing happening to disturb her slumbers, and she 
awoke in the morning rather better than she had 
been the preceding day. 

She still, however, continued extremely weak 
and low ; tormented by anxiety about Egbert, 
and scarcely less tortured by the idea of lady En- 
dermay and her sorrows* Her thoughts were 



NOCTURNAL VISIT. 146 

more than ever, occupied about her ;this, day, and 
even at night, after she retired to rest, they still 
continued to dwell upon her. She dreamed seve- 
ral wild and terrific dreams concerning her, and 
at length started from her sleep, under the terri- 
fying idea of having seen her approach the bed, 
while in a deep ai\d mournful voice, she heard 
her declare, she was no longer an inhabitant of 
this world, and that her death was occasioned by 
iter (Jacintha's) cruel breach of promise. 

It was some time before Jacintha could in any 
degree overcome the horror this dream inspired. 
As she was endeavouring to reason herself into 
composure, and struggle against the superstitious 
terrors which were beginning to invade her mind, 
she thought she heard a noise in the outer room, 
as if some person was walking in it. The night 
was far advanced ; and as Agnes had declared it 
was out of her power to visit her, except in the 
daytime, she could not suppose it was her she 
heard. Her heart began to beat with unusual 
violence ; and gently raising herself in the bed, 
she parted the side curtains with a trembling hand. 
The noise ceased for a moment; it then returned, 
accompanied by a deep groan. 

The closet-door stood open, and by the sha- 
dowy light which a full moon diffused through 
the outer apartment, Jacintha, as she instinctively 
bent forward, perceived a tall female figure, ar- 
rayed in white, slowly moving about it, with folded 
hands, and gestures expressive of deep distress. 
Upon this figure Jacintha continued to gaze, wi*h 
feelings which may easier be conceived than de- 
scribed, till she beheld it suddenly advancing to 
the closet, and at the same moment heard the 
name of lady Endermay pronounced. 



146 NOCTURNAL VISIT. 

Her senses instantly forsook her, and she sunk 
fainting upon her pillow. When she recovered, 
she was astonished to behold the glare of daylight 
in the outer apartment, and Agnes leaning over 
her, from whom a joyful exclamation burst, the 
moment she opened her eyes. 

" I really was never so much frightened be- 
fore,' ' cried she. " I thought you never would 
recover. What could possibly have thrown you 
into such a situation ?" 

Jacintha in a few minutes, became sufficiently 
composed to tell her. Agnes listened to her now, 
as she had done before upon a similar occasion, 
with the most profound attention, and again at- 
tempted to persuade her she had seen nothing 
but what her imagination, still affected by her late 
illness, had created. 

u No," cried Jacintha, in reply to what she 
said, " I can no longer doubt the reality of what 
I saw." 

Agnes persisted in a-cribing her terror to a 
fanciful cause. She assured her no living being 
but herself had access to this part of the castle. 

" And as to the inhabitants of the other world," 
added she, looking earnestly at Jacintha, " I am 
sure you have too much good sense to suppose 
they ever visit this." 

Jacintha sighed deeply, but made no reply. 
She knew not what to think or to believe ; she 
felt, however, so terrified at the idea of passing 
another night in her present chamber, at least by 
herself, that she conjured Agnes either to have 
her removed from it, or contrive to stay with her 
at night. 

Agnes assured her it was impossible to do ei- 
ther, as both she and her mistress were narrowly 



NOCTURNAL VISIT. 147 

watched by spies of Mr. Sinclair's, in consequence 
of his having a suspicion of the manner in which 
she ( Jacintha) had effected her escape, and of her 
present residence. 

" A suspicion," added she, " which, if confirm- 
ed, and it could scarcely fail of being so, if your 
request in either way was complied with, would 
be productive of the greatest wretchedness to my 
lady." 

Jacintha, on hearing this, ceased to urge the 
request. Agnes assisted her to dress, and conti- 
nued with her till she had breakfasted ; expatiating 
all the time upon the fancies which melancholy 
and illness are so apt to create. Jacintha felt her 
confinement now more irksome than ever. She 
endeavoured, however, to support it with patience, 
particularly as she flattered herself a very short 
time would terminate it ; for she could not doubt 
that Woodville, upon the receipt of her let- 
ter, would take immmediate steps to release her 
from it. 

Though, by the arguments of Agnes, she was 
again almost persuaded to believe her late terror 
owing to an imaginary cause, she could not be- 
hold the approach of night, without dismay and 
apprehension, nor prevail upon herself to retire 
to bed till the return of day-light. 

The next night did not find her by any means 
more tranquil than she had been on the preceding 
one, though that had passed away in quiet ; on 
the contrary, she was rather more agitated, in 
consequence of having remarked that it was every 
second night she was disturbed. She sat in fear- 
ful expectation, till she heard a distant clock strik- 
ing twelve* Overpowered by fatigue and watching, 



red 

4 



she was then beginnh^ to think of retiring to 



148 NOCTURNAL VISIT. 

rest, when suddenly she heard a low noise in the - 
gallery. She instantly started from her seat, and 
obeying the impulse of terror, extinguished the 
light, and shrunk into the closet. In a few mi- 
nutes she heard the door of the outer apartment 
opened, and, by the faint light which a glimmer- 
ing fire afforded-, perceived the same tall figure 
that had before alarmed her, advancing into it. 
She saw it start, look round the chamber with 
gestures expressive of surprise, and then approach 
the closet. 

Jacintha could no longer controul her feelings ; 
she shrieked aloud, and rushed from her conceal- 
ment. The figure surveyed her for an instant in 
silence; then uttering a fearful cry, it turned pre- 
cipitately, and fled from the chamber. Jacintha, 
Wrought almost to desperation by the ideas it had 
given birth to, eagerly pursued it into the gallery, 
supplicating it to stop, and explain the cause of 
its mysterious appearance. 

To her supplication, however, she received no 
answer; but she still continued to go on, though 
in her pursuit she was guided alone by her ear* 
for the gallery was involved in utter darkness ; 
when suddenly she heard a deep groan, and some- 
thing fall, like a dead weight, upon the floor. Sh6 
instantly stopped, and stood for a moment con- 
founded and dismayed. Recovering, then, in some 
degree, her presence of mind, she groped her 
way back to her chamber, and relighting her can- 
dle, returned to the gallery, where she beheld the 
figure she had pursued, lying prostrate upon the 
floor. She stooped down, and drawing back a 
kind of hood which hung over the head, disco- 
vered the features of an elderly woman 
peaxed in the agonies of death. 



NOCTURNAL VISIT. 149 

Unable to aid her^ herself, and fearful she would 
expire if she did not receive immediate assistance, 
Jacintha resolved on endeavouring to procure it 
for her. She accordingly hastened to the door at 
the end of the gallery, in which, to her extreme 
joy, she fcmnd a key that permitted her to open 
it; and, with trembling steps and fluttering heart, 
she pursued her way, as she thought, towards the 
chamber of Mrs. Sinclair. 

After passing through numerous passages, she 
at length reached a door, near the entrance of a 
spacious corridor, which, from this circumstance, 
she. was so certain of being the one she sought, 
that she ventured to knock at it. Upon doing so, 
she thought she heard a faint voice within, desi- 
ring her to enter ; not being quite certain, howe- 
ver, that this was the case, she repeated her knock, 
and immediately heard some one approaching the 
door. 

In the next minute it was opened ; but how 
great was her confusion when, instead of behold- 
ing Mrs. Sinclair or Agnes, she beheld a venera- 
ble looking man ; who, from the description she 
had received of him from Agnes, she could not 
doubt being lord Endermay. She instantly start- 
ed back, and retreated to the gallery into which 
the corridor opened. Here she paused, from ig- 
norance of the way she should turn, and this 
pause enabled lord Endermay (who was indeed 
the person she saw, and in whom the glimpse he 
bed of her features excited such emotions, as for 
a minute to suspend his faculties) to overtake her. 
" For heaven's sake tell me who you are!" 
cried he, as he tremblingly grasped her arm, 
while his eyes were fastened upon her with the 
most scrutinizing earnestness. 



1 30 NOCTURNAL VISIT. 

Jacintha hesitated to reply? confused and dis- 
tressed beyond expression, at the idea of any dis- 
covery taking place unpleasant to the feelings 
of her protectress, Mrs. Sinclair. Iler evident 
embarrassment, as she deliberated about an av> 
s-vcr, heightened the curiosity of lord Enderrnay, 
and he repeated his question with still greater 
earnestness. 

" I am an unhappy stranger, sir," replied Ja- 
cintba. in a timid accent, on finding it impossible 
to avoid answering him, " whom Mrs. Sinclair, 
from motives of humanity, has taken under her 
protection, till I can be restored to my friends in 
England, from whom some distressing circum- 
stances have separated me." 

" And have you any business with Mrs. Sin- 
clair at this late hour?" inquired lord Enderrnay, 

Jacintba replied in the affirmative, and entreated 
him to have the goodness to direct her to her 
chamber, for which, she added, she h?.d mistaken 
his. 

" There is no use in directing yen to it now," 
said lord Enderrnay ; " for Mrs. Sinclair was in- 
disposed, and went early to bed to-night." 

" Good heaven 1" exclaimed Jacintha, starting, 
" what shall I do, if I cannot pee her or Agnes : " 

" You look alarmed," cried lord En 
" do you require the assistance of either?" 

" Not for myself," replied Jacintha; t; but...,." 

" For whom?" eagerly demanded his lordship. 

" I know not for whom," said Jacintha. 

a Gracious heaven I what mystery is t\/, 
I lord Enderrnay ; " explain yourself I con- 



Jacintha did so as br 


• 


as p< 




d lord 


hdermay, in an 




.- caii 


ed to 


an at- 



NOCTURNAL VISIT. 1 5 1 

mt, in an adjoining apartment, into whose 
hand he put the light which Jacintha had hither- 
to held, and desired him to precede them to 
part of the castle she had mentioned. 

Jacintba's distress and confusion every moment 
increased. It was evident to her., from the man- 
ner and interrogatories of lord Endermay, that 
lie was determined to discover the circumstances 
which had placed her under the protection of 
Mrs. Sinclair, and she trembled to think of the 
consequences .which might result from that de- 
termination. 

On entering" the gallery, leading to the apart- 
ments she occupied, lord Endermay dropped her 
hand, which he had till then retained, and hastily 
approached her mysterious visiter, who still lay 
in a state of insensibility. The moment he be- 
held her fajce, he uttered an exclamation expressive 
of the greatest surprise, and from which Jacintha 
discovered that the unhappy woman was a do- 
mestic belonging to the castle. 

. The servant, not less astonished than his lord, 

resigned the light he carried, into his hand, and 

Og her in his arms, conveyed her to the cham- 

of Jacintha, to which she involuntarily led the 

en, is the room you occupy?" said 

'Utf-d 17, glancing round the chamber as 

« Gracious heaven I I am all amaze - 

What could Mrs. Sinclair's motives 

added he, looking earnestly at Jacintha, "for 

lodging you in this remote part of the castle?" 

Jacintha affected to be too busy about the sense- 
less object before her, who was gently laid upon 
a couch in the outer apartment, to hear this qites- 
ia a few moments the unhappy creature 



i$2 NOCTURNAL VISIT, 

began to shew symptoms of returning life, in 
consequence of the aid that was administered to 
hcv ; but scarcely had she opened her eyes, ere 
she closed them again, with a piercing scream, 
at beholding Jacintha beside her, and relapsed in- 
to insensibility. 

" It is you who alarm her," said lord Ender- 
may, addressing himself to Jacintha. " There is 
something dark and mysterious' in this affair, 
which I am determined to develope." 

As soon as she began to revive again, lord 
Enderinay motioned to Jacintha to retire to the 
closet; which she accordingly did, trembling be- 
neath the emotions which were excited by an idea 
that had started in her mind, of some great, some 
interesting discovery being about to take place, 
relative to lady Endermay. 

For many minutes after the unhappy woman, 
whose emotions at beholding her, gave rise to this 
idea, had revived, her reason seemed disordered, 
and she uttered the most incoherent expressions ; 
ail, however, tending to criminate, herself, and 
prove that she had assisted in some dreadful 
• against lady Endermay, whose name she 
continually repeated, declaring she had seen her 
apparition. 

Lord Endermay, whose tremulous voice deno- 
ted his emotions, did all in his power to sooth 
her, and by degrees she came to herself; but 
^ 7 lvcn her perception returned sufficiently to permit 
her to notice the situation she was in, the confu- 
sion and terror excited by it nearly overwhelmed 
her reason again, and starting from her seat, she 
attempted to leave the room. 

" You cannot, you shall not escape me!" cried 
lord Endermay, seizing her ami. " You have 



NOCTURNAL VISIT, 153 

gone too far to recede. ..you have given me a clue 
by which your guilt may be discovered. Enor- 
mous, however, as I am certain it is, from what 
you have said, I promise you my forgiveness, if 
you make a candid confession of it. If not, if 
you oblige me to take any steps to ascertain it, 
be assured the punishment it merits shall be in- 
flicted on you." 

She hesitated for a few minutes, as if irreso- 
lute what to do ; then dropping on her knees, she 
burst into tears, and protested, if she could be 
certain he would not punish her in the manner 
she merited, she would reveal to him all he de- 
sired to know ; glad of an opportunity of easing 
her mind of a heavy burden, which had long op- 
pressed it. 

Lord Endermay repeated the promise she re- 
quired ; then, raising her from the ground, he 
reseated her, and endeavoured to calm her per- 
turbations, which would not for some time permit 
her to enter upon her narrative, or rather con- 
fession.. ..a confession by which lord Endermay 
discovered he had been the dupe of complicated 
baseness, and that his domestic peace had been 
destroyed by the machinations of those in whom 
he most confided. 

Ere we touch upon what she revealed, it is ne- 
cessary to say something of those whose agent 
she had been. 



1 54 NOCTURNAL VISIT. 



CHAP. X. 



" Thoughts cannot form themselves in words so horrid, 
" As can express his guilt." 

dryden's all for love. 



JL HE earl of Endermay was scarcely of 
age, when he succeeded to the titles and estates 
of his father. He commenced his career in life 
with every advantage which nature, fortune, and 
education could bestow, and gave an early pro- 
mise of being an honour to the race from which 
he was descended. His father's death was not by 
any means expected at the time it took place; 
and, in consequence of its happening so suddenly, 
two children, a son and a daughter, by a second 
marriage, were left totally unprovided for. All 
uneasiness, however, on this account was removed 
from their minds, by the promises of the young 
earl. ..promises which he most faithfully kept. At 
a proper age he settled upon his brother (whom 
he had educated in a manner befitting his birth 
and expectations) a handsome independence ; and 
introduced him, under the most favourable auspi- 
ces, to the great world. 

To his sister, lady Jane Sinclair, prudence made 
him act less generously, though not less kindly. 
Convinced, from her appearance, which wa& dis- 
agreeable in the extreme (being highly deformed 



NOCTURNAL VISIT. 1 55 

in her person, and forbidding in her countenance) 
that no man, but a necessitous one, could ever 
think of marrying her ; he resolved to prevent 
the unhappiness so likely to result from her chang- 
ing her state, by never. giving her a fortune suf- 
ficient to tempt any man to ask her to do so, or 
enable her to quit Endermay castle, which he 
deemed the most eligible residence for her. 

This conduct, which disappointed the matri- 
monial hopes of lady Jane (hopes which were ex- 
tremely sanguine, as she was vain enough to 
imagine herself capable of inspiring both love 
and admiration), made her conceive an implacable 
hatred against him, which she had sufficient cun- 
ning and policy, however, to conceal ; and the earl 
gave her credit for what, in reality, "she had never 
possessed.. .sisterly affection and good-nature. 

But much as she detested the earl, Sinclair de- 
tested him still more. Though his expectations 
had been more than answered by him, he had 
early been taught to envy and hate him, by a 
selfish and designing mother, who detested the 
earl herself, because he stood in the way of her 
son, and prevented his attaining the honours she 
was ambitious of seeing him in possession of. 
Like his sister, however, Sinclair veiled his real 
sentiments, and acted in such a manner, as to 
make the earl believe he sincerely regarded him. 

The earl married soon after the decease of his 
father ; whose example he imitated, in making 
Endermay castle (the seat of his ancestors, ana 
the place of his nativity) his principal residence. 

In the course of time his brother also married 
a very amiable lady, of small fortune, but great 
expectations. These expectations, however, were 



156 NOCTURNAL VISIT. 

disappointed, and Mr. Sinclair was too much ir- 
ritated by their failure, to affect any longer, ex- 
cept in public, a regard for his lady, to whom 
they had been his sole inducement for uniting 
himself. 

He carefully, however, endeavoured to conceal 
the neglect and cruelty with which he treated her, 
from all, but in particular from his brother ; who, 
he knew, abhorred any thing like inhumanity or 
immorality, and whose favour, from selfish mo- 
tives, he was anxious to retain. 

Mrs. Sinclair was scarcely less desirous to con- 
ceal his defects than he was himself. She loved 
him too tenderly to think of exposing him to the 
censure of the world, and thought, besides, if any 
thing could touch his heart, it would be gentle- 
ness and forbearance on her part. He was too 
unprincipled, however, to permit her mildness, 
or uncomplaining submission to his will, to have 
any effect upon him, and continued to persevere 
in conduct not more degrading to himself, than 
injurious to her. 

At the particular request of his brother, he 
continued, after his marriage, to consider Ender- 
may castle, as he had done before it, his home, 
whenever he was in Scotland. In Scotland, how- 
ever, he contrived to pass but little time. His 
having a seat in the house of commons, gave him 
a plausible pretext for being almost constantly in 
England ; and the delicate state of Mrs. Sinclair's 
health gave him a pretext equally plausible for 
leaving her behind him. 

But though lord Endermay was his opposite in 
every respect, though a self-approving conscience 
and the real esteem of the world was his, he was 
still discontented and unhappy, in consequence 



1NOCTURNAL VISIT. 157 

©f his ardent wishes for a. family being disap- 
pointed... a disappointment which opened the most 
flattering prospects to his brother, but so mate- 
rially affected the health and temper of his lady, 
that the latter part of her life was a burden to 
her. * 

At the time she died, lord Endermay was up- 
wards of fifty ; but from the regular and temperate 
life he had always kd, he appeared much youn- 
ger. The aii.eraticn in her temper, had latterly 
rend- . very unhappy ; LxS regret fcr her 

,k>ss was: consequently not very poignant. Ere 
long he completely overcame it, and recalled that 
gaiety and cheerfulness to the castle, in which he 
delighted, .but which, her spleen and iii-hirmour 
had baaished from it. 

.A s constant visiters was a gentleman 

, a few months prece- 
ding the death; of lady Endermay, had taken up 
his residence in the neighbourhood of Endermay 
castle. He had an only daughter, at this period, 
about nineteen,, remarkably handsome, lively and 
accomplished. The earl soon began to experience 
tenderer feelings fo^ &er than admiration alone 
could have, inspired. He endeavoured,, however, 
to conquer a. passion which, from the disparity 
of their ages, he could not Hatter himself would 
ever meet with encouragement. Her father, how- 
ever, who perceived it, notwithstanding all Ids 
efforts to conceal it, took such pains to convince 
him. to the contrary, that he at length made pro- 
posals for the lovely Eglantine, which were un- 
hesitatingly accepted, and their marriage was scon 
after celebrated with much pomp and splendour. 

This marriage, which threatened to annihilate 
all his flattering expectations, was a dreadful blow 



138 NOCTURNAL VISIT. 

surprised her. Her looks were expressive of this 
surprise ; and Mrs. Sinclair, appearing suddenly 
to recollect herself, apologized for the curiosity 
she had betrayed, which she declared was owing 
to the striking resemblance Jacintha bore to a 
lady she had formerly known and tenderly loved. 
" I should like to know who the lady was," 
said Jacintha, involuntarily, " for this observation 
has been made before. ,, 

" Ah!" cried Mrs. Sinclair, with quickness, 
" I know who made it ; it was Mr. Loveit. Yes, 
the likeness indeed must forcibly have struck him ; 
be yourself a judge of it." 

So saying, she took from her bosom a small 
miniature, and presented it to Jacintha. Jacin- 
tha examined it attentively, with a confused idea 
of having somewhere seen, independent of herself, 
a person whom it resembled. While she was 
endeavouring to recal this person to her recollec- 
tion, she accidentally turned the picture, and 
perceived upon the back of it, " E. E." That it 
was drawn for lady Endermay, now instantly oc- 
curred to her; and a feeling not to be described, 
and which she could not account for, agitated her 
soul, at finding she so strikingly resembled this 
unhappy woman. Some strange ideas started in 
her mind, which she quickly, however, endea- 
voured to banish, as the wild suggestions of a dis- 
tempered imagination. 

She returned the picture in silence to Mrs. 
Sinclair, and exerted herself to hide the emotions 
it had caused. It was evident to her, that Mrs. 
Sinclair was the friend of lady Endermay, and 
consequently ignorant of her destiny ; certain, 
therefore, from these circumstances, that was it 
revealed to her, slihe would take immediate mea- 



NOCTURNAL VISIT. ls§ 

surcs. to redress the poor sufferer, the secret rela- 
tive to her trembled upon the lips of Jacintha, and 
was with difficulty prevented bursting from them. 
She was compelled to dwell upon the solemn vow 
she had taken to preserve it inviolate.. ..upon the 
miseries she was told she should doom an inno- 
cent fellow-creature to, by disclosing it, in order to 
prevent herself from yielding to the impulse of 
humanity ; and, with a flood of tears she again 
resigned the unhappy lady Endermay to her fate. 

Those tears, which Mrs. Sinclair imputed to 
her own sorrows, called forth all her tenderness, 
and she repeated her assurances of protection to 
Jacintha, till she was again safe under that of her 
own friends. 

As soon as Jacintha was composed, she wrote 
an explanatory letter to Woodville, conjuring 
him, in the most earnest terms, not to delay tak- 
ing her from her present situation, and relieving 
her anxiety about Egbert. This letter she in- 
closed in one to the woman from whose house she 
had been inveigled, with an entreaty not to let 
any time be lost in having it delivered to Mr. 
Woodville. 

Mrs. Sinclair again spoke of the important 
reasons she had (though without explaining why) 
for wishing to conceal Jacintha's being under her 
care, in consequence of which, she was under a 
necessity of removing her to a remote part of the 
castle ; as it would be utterly impossible to conceal 
her being a resident in it, was she to remain in 
the apartments she then occupied. On the same 
account, she added, it would be utterly out of her 
power to visit her. She expressed the deepest 
regret at being cempelled to act in this manner ; 
and said, at some future time she hoped she should 



160 NOCTURNAL VISIT. 

in this moment, when he deemed her so unworthy 
of his tenderness, leaning on the bosom of her 
supposed lover. 

This sight -caused such emotions as maddened 
his brain. Contrary to his first intentions, of de- 
manding satisfaction in an honourable manner, 
he rushed into the arbour, and while with one hand 
he tore lady Endermay from the grasp of his fan- 
cied rival, with the other he aimed a poinard at 
his heart. His trembling hand, however, missed 
its dreadful aim, and but slightly wounded the 
young stranger in the arm; who, instantly start- 
ing from the ground, on which he had been kneel- 
ing at the feet of lady Endermay, and on which 
she had dropped, to all appearance, lifeless, turn- 
ed upon his defence, and endeavoured to disarm 
lord Endermay ; conjuring him, at the same time, 
to grant him a few minutes attention, and he would 
do away the suspicion he saw he entertained. 
His supplications, however, were unavailing, nor 
were his efforts to wrest the poinard from lord 
Endermay, who again aimed it at him, more suc- 
cessful. 

In struggling with him, lord Endermay's foot 
chanced to slip, and he fell to the ground. In his 
fall, the dangerous weapon he held pierced his 
bosom, and caused such an effusion of blood, as 
made the stranger fear he was materially injured. 
Regardless of any pain he suffered himself, he 
directly hastened towards the castle, to procure 
for him the assistance he required; but the alarm 
had already been given there by an emissary of 
Mr. Sinclair, who, in pursuance of his orders, 
had watched the motions of lord Endermay ; and, 
ere the stranger had got half way to it, he was 
met by Sinclair, and a number of the domestics, 



NOCTURNAL VISIT. 16 1 

two of whom, by the command of Sinclair, di- 
rectly seized, and conveyed him as a prisoner, to 
the castle, whither lord and lady Endermay were 
both taken, in a state of insensibility. 

Sinclair's heart throbbed with hope and exul- 
tation, at the situation of his brother. He wore, 
however, such -a semblance of grief, and paid 
him such tender attention, that he completely 
deceived all but his own immediate confidants into 
a belief of his sincerely feeling for him. But, 
notwithstanding all his hypocrisy, he could scarce- 
ly disguise the mortification he felt, when, con- 
trary to his expectations, the surgeon, summoned 
to the assistance of lord Endermay, declared his 
wound not mortal. He tried, however, to endure 
his disappointment with some degree of patience, 
by flattering himself that the wound lady En- 
dermay 's conduct had given to his heart, would 
prove so. 

From the chamber of his brother, he proceed- 
ed to the room in which the stranger was confined, 
to whose wound, from motives which may easily 
be conjectured, he had inhumanly ordered no at- 
tention to be paid. But how was he shocked, how 
was he surprised, when, instead of a full confession 
of his guilt, which he hoped to have extorted from 
him, he heard he was the natural son of Mr. Nairn, 
who, in consequence of various indiscretions he 
had been led into by the natural thoughtlessness 
of youth, and a temper too impetuous, had aban- 
doned him entirely for some time past. Reduced 
to extreme distress by this conduct, he at length 
resolved on applying to his sister, lady Endermay, 
to intercede with his father for him. 

For the purpose of making this application, he 
came in private to the neighbourhood of Ender- 
b b 



1 62 NOCTURNAL VISIT, 

may castle, where, not without difficulty, he found 
means of soliciting his sister to see him ; a solici- 
tation which she granted without any reluctance, 
but what originated from a fear of their interview 
being discovered by her lord, who was so strongly 
prejudiced against him in consequence of the re- 
presentations of his father, that she knew he would 
be displeased if he found she held any intercourse 
with him. 

As they could not in one interview entirely ar- 
range the measures they deemed necessary to be 
taken to obtain his father's forgiveness for him, 
it was settled that they should meet again. They 
accordingly did so, as has been already mentioned, 
and were unfortunately surprised by lord Ender- 
may. 

The second downfal of his revived hopes and 
expectations were more than Sinclair could bear ; 
and, after some deliberation, he contrived, in con- 
cert with his sister, a scheme not more daring 
than atrocious, to prevent the innocence of lady 
Endermay from being cleared... .a scheme, which 
the dangerous illness of lord Endermay, who was 
utterly insensible to surrounding objects, and the 
absence of Mrs. Sinclair from the castle, whom 
he had purposely sent from it on a visit to a rela- 
tion, gave him but too favourable an opportunity of 
accomplishing. 

In pursuance of it, the unfortunate brother of 
lady Endermay was forcibly conveyed, the second 
night of his confinement, to an uninhabited part 
of the castle, from whence there was no possibility 
of his making his escape. Here Sinclair deter- 
mined he should pass the remainder of his life, 
convinced he could not be in a place more secure, 
or less liable to inspection. 



NOCTURNAL VISIT. 163 

The next night, the two men who had dragged 
him to his solitary abode (Mr. Sinclair's valet, and 
the husband of lady Jane's woman), entered the 
chamber of his sister, to which no one but lady 
Jane and her attendant had access, and muffling 
her up so as to stifle her cries, and prevent any 
resistance, bore her to a carriage at some distance 
from the castle, which conveyed her to a distant 
part of the coast, where a ship, hired expressly 
for the occasion, lay ready to take her to France, 
where Sinclair had a relation (the abbess of the 
convent in which Jacintha sought shelter), 'to whose 
care, he knew, he might with safety entrust her. 

A letter was left upon her dressing-table, address- 
ed to lord Enderrnay, in which she informed him, 
that, unable any longer to support the fetters which 
an arbitrary father had imposed upon her, she had 
fled forever from him, with the man whom her 
heart adored, and to whom her child owed its 
being. 

This letter was the work of lady Jane's head 
and hand, and so nice an imitation of the writing 
of lady Enderrnay, that the quickest eye could 
scarcely have discerned the deception. 

Lord Enderrnay slowly recovered from the ef- 
fects of his wound, but never from the shock 
occasioned by the supposed perfidy of lady Endei> 
may. At first he bitterly regretted her elopement, 
as it disappointed the revenge he meditated tak- 
ing; by degrees, however^ his resentment softened, 
of regretting, he then rejoiced at her 
not en him an opportunity of gratifying 

revenge. 

Her father, like him, the dupe of complicated 
ice, died of a broken heart, on her account, 
imiy protesting, to his last moment, that she 



164 NOCTURNAL VISIT. 

wronged him in accusing him of ever having ex- 
ercised unjust authority over her ; as, had he not 
believed her affections were entirely disengaged 
from any other object at the time lord Endermay 
proposed for her, instead of persuading, he would 
not have permitted her to accept his hand. 

" The task of attending the unhappy brother 
of your lady," said Barbara (lady Jane's woman, 
pursuing her narrative, which excited in the bosom 
of lord Endermay blended emotions of grief, hor- 
ror, rage, and indignation), " devolved upon me... 
and a most unpleasant one it was ; as, exclusive 
of the constant apprehensions I was under of hav- 
ing my nocturnal visits discovered (for, except at 
night, I never dared to venture to him), I could 
not avoid feeling a thousand superstitious terrors, 
as I traversed the lonely passages leading to the 
tower in which he was confined." 

u What tower?" eagerly demanded lord En- 
dermay. 

" The east tower, my lord, to which that door," 
pointing to the one which had attracted the atten- 
tion of Jacintha, and excited her inquiries, the first 
night she entered the chamber, " leads. Through 
a wicket in the door of his chamber, I conveyed 
to him his provisions, and whatever other neces- 
saries he required. His reproaches, his complaints, 
were so dreadful to me, as were the apprehensions 
I have already mentioned, that nothing but the 
great rewards I received for my services, and the 
still greater I was promised, if Mr. Sinclair ever 
succeeded to your titles and estates, could have 
induced me to persevere in my attendance upon 
him. Latterly my mind has been more than ever 
disturbed by the declining state of his health, 
which made me tremble whenever I went to him. 



NOCTURNAL VISIT. 165 

lest I should find him a corpse. Bitterly I now 
began to regret the part I had acted, and felt such 
horrors as only those who have a guilty consci- 
ence, can conceive. These horrors were not a 
little augmented by strange and mysterious noises, 
which, for some nights past, I thought I heard 
within this chamber.. ..Oh! my lord, donotimagine 
I rave when I tell you, that this night,...this very 
night, I saw the apparition of your lady 1" 

" Conscience makes cowards of us all," said 
lord Endermay, in a solemn voice, " and raises 
phantoms to affright us. But tell me," added he, 
grasping her arm, and with wildness in his look, 
" tell me of my child i" 

" All that I know concerning her I will tell you, 
indeed, my lord," cried Barbara, frightened by the 
wildness of his looks. " The wife of Mr. Sinclair's 
valet, a woman, whose art and little feeling, render- 
ed her well qualified for the trust reposed in her, 
was the person appointed to deliver lady Ender- 
may into the hands of the abbess. On board the 
ship your poor lady *Was taken ill, in consequence 
of the terror she suffered, and delivered of a daugh- 
ter, who, notwithstanding her premature birth, was 
a lovely infant." 

" And this infant..... this precious child," cried 
lord Endermay, starting from his chair, and travers- 
ing the room with disordered steps, " I shall never 
behold i... .Oh wretches !...Oh barbarians !" 

" Hope the best, my lord," said Barbara, trem- 
blingly. " Providence, which, by such wonderful 
means, has brought about the vindication of your 
lady's innocence, may have preserved your child,, 
to be the comfort of your latter days, and recom- 
pence vou for all vour troubles*" 
Bh2 



166 NOCTURNAL VISIT. 

a Proceed!" cried lord Endermay, reseating 
himself. 

" There was a sailor's wife on board the ship, 
with an infant at her breast ; and it occurred to 
Mrs. M'Neil, that she could not find a better 
person than this woman to give the child to (with 
whom she was vested, with full power to do what 
she pleased), nor a better opportunity of disposing 
of it than the present. She accordingly sounded 
the woman, and finding her ready to accede to the 
proposal she was about making her, she informed 
her the child was the offspring of guilt and indiscre- 
tion, whose connections, in consequence of its 
illegitimate birth, being determined never to ac- 
knowledge it, had lodged five hundred guineas in 
her hands, to be given to any person who would 
take charge of it, and bring it up as their own. 
This the woman did not hesitate promising, and 
to her it was consigned." 

" And has she never been heard of since ?" de- 
manded lord Endermay, again starting from his 
chair, and almost breathless with agitation. 

" Never, my lord ; there has been no inquiry 
made after her." 

" Oh cruelty unexampled !" cried lord Ender- 
may, clasping his hands in agony together. 

" Do not despair, my lord," said Barbara ; " you 
may yet be able to discover her." 

. " How is it possible to do so ?" said lord Ender- 
may, " without having any clue by which she may 
be traced ?" 

" Though Mrs. M'Neil would not acknow- 
ledge so to me, I am convinced she knows 
the name of the woman to whom she gave her," 
replied Barbara, " and many other particulars 
necessary to be known, and which I dare say you'll 



NOCTURNAL VISIT. 167 

be able to extort from her ; ...but even should you not, 
you should not despair, as she acquainted me with 
a circumstance which, I think, may bring about the 
discovery you desire." 

" What circumstance V' eagerly demanded lord 
Endermay. 

" She told me that the child was marked, in a 
very remarkable manner, a little above her left 
elbow, with a cherry. This mark may " 

Here she was interrupted by Jacintha, who rush- 
ing from her concealment, fell panting upon the 
bosom of lord Endermay. Barbara uttered a 
piercing shriek the moment she beheld her, and 
again fainted away. 

" Gracious heaven !" exclaimed lord Endermay, 
trembling beneath his lovely burden, " what is the 
cause of this emotion ?" 

Jacintha started from him, and baring her left 
arm, laid her hand expressively upon it. 

" Oh heavens I" cried lord Endermay, ** what 
do I behold ? Do I see aright ? Do I behold the 
mark said to be impressed upon the arm of my 
child ? This mark.. .the likeness too so great. Oh 
yes, you are her ! You are the daughter of my 
Eglantine.... my long-lost child !" 

" Oh ! could I hope so," said Jacintha, with up- 
lifted hands, as he strained her to his breast ; " but 
I fear....I fear to indulge such a hope. ...convinced, 
as I am, that I could less bear the disappointment 
of it, than of any other.'* 

"You are then ignorant of your parents?" ex- 
claimed lord Endermay. " Oh, this circumstance," 
continued he, not permitting her to interrupt him, 
" confirms the assurance which the others have al- 
ready given me, of your being mine." 



168 NOCTURNAL VISIT. 

" My lord," replied Jacintha, " I will, if you 
please, reveal to you my history, which, though 
short, has been a strange, eventful one. You will 
then be better able to judge, than at present, 
whether the idea which now agitates us both, is 
well or ill-founded." 

Lord Endermay, leaving his valet with the still 
insensible Barbara, conducted Jacintha to a dress- 
ing-room adjoining his chamber ; where, as briefly 
as possible, she gave him the particulars she had 
promised. Though his heart sunk when he heard 
of her being born in Ireland, yet still her strik- 
ing likeness to lady Endermay, and the mark upon 
her arm, kept hope from utterly expiring within it. 

The moment she had finished her narrative, 
unable to endure a much longer continuance of 
his present torturing anxiety and suspense, lord 
Endermay hastened from her, though daylight 
was but just beginning to dawn, to call a servant, 
by whom he sent a message to his chaplain, desir- 
ing to see him immediately. The chaplain, not a 
little surprised at this message, instantly rose to 
attend him; and, on entering his dressing-room, 
was still more surprised by beholding Jacintha in 
it, than he had been by his message. 

Lord Endermay explicitly acquainted him with 
the discovery he had made, instructed him to visit 
the unfortunate Nairn, administer to him all the 
comfort in his power to bestow, and, at a proper 
hour, have Mrs. M'Neil brought to the castle, to 
be interrogated relative to the woman to whom she 
had given his child. 

As soon as he could do so, without exciting any 
alarm, lord Endermay sent to request Mrs. Sin- 
clair would favour him with a few minutes conver- 



NOCTURNAL VISIT. 169 

sation in her dressing-room. Mrs. Sinclair, who 
by this time was up and dressed, returned for an- 
swer, she should be happy to see him whenever he 
pleased. He accordingly repaired to her ; and, in 
as brief a manner as possible, related the events of 
the preceding- night. 

Mrs. Sinclair was overwhelmed with confusion 
and regret by what she heard ; for not all the en- 
ormities of her husband had been able to subdue 
her affection for him, or prevent her from regret- 
ting the shame and infamy to which she now saw 
him exposed. Lord Endermay endeavoured to 
calm her emotions. He assured her, on her ac- 
count, he would not punish his brother in the man- 
ner he merited, or hold him up to public scorn ; but, 
at the same time, declared, during his lifetime, he 
never should enter Endermay castle again ; in 
which, he added, she would always be a welcome 
resident. 

Mrs. Sinclair thanked him, as well as the 
perturbation of her spirits would permit her to do, 
for his kindness, and endeavoured to derive con- 
solation from the assurances he had given her re- 
lative to her husband. She felt more shocked than 
surprised, by what he told her, as she long suspect- 
ed Mr. Sinclair of having contrived some scheme 
to injure lady Endermay ; and this suspicion had 
infused such a superstitious dread into the mind of 
Agnes, who was the confidant of her lady, that she 
could scarcely prevail upon herself to stir without 
some person with her after it was dark, and readily 
believed Jacintha had seen something supernatural 
in her chamber, though she used all her eloquence 
to persuade her to the contrary. In this belief she 
was confirmed, by imagining no one but herself 



170 NOCTURNAL VISIT. 

had a key to the part of the castle Jacintha [[was 
lodged in. 

Lord Endermay mentioned to Mr. Sinclair the 
ideas he entertained respecting Jacintha, and was 
delighted to hear she had also been struck by her 
resemblance to lady Endermay. 



NOCTURNAL VISIT. 171 



CHAP. XI. 



"You gods, look down, 
* And, from your sacred viais, pour your graces 
u Upon my daughter's head." 

Shakspeare. 



AGNES was sent to conduct Jacintha to 
Mrs. Sinclair's dressing-room, where Mrs. Sinclair, 
prepossessed with the idea of her being lordEnder- 
may's daughter, received her with mingled con- 
fusion and tenderness. 

Lord Endermay continued with them till Mrs. 
McNeil's arrival at the castle. She came totally 
unsuspicious of the purpose for which she was sent. 
Like Barbara, she soon perceived that a candid 
confession of her guilt could alone save her from 
the punishment she deserved. She accordingly 
made a merit of necessity, and throwing herself 
upon the mercy of lord Endermay, revealed to him 
all the particulars he was desirous of knowing. 

In consequence of her information, messengers 
were immediately dispatched to a small village 
upon the coast, about fifteen miles from Endermay 
castle, where, she said, the woman had informed 
her she resided, at the ,4-ime she committed the 
child to her care. 

In the course of the day, the chaplain, accom- 
panied by proper attendants, left the castle, to em- 



172 NOCTURNAL VISIT. 

bark, from the nearest port, for France, for the pur- 
pose of liberating the much-injured countess, the 
present state of lord Endermays's mind rendering 
him totally unfit for such an undertaking*. 

Towards the close of day, the, domestics, who 
had been sent to inquire after the nurse of his child, 
returned,bringingher,to his unspeakable joy, along 
with them, and another woman, whom she called 
her sister. They both appeared greatly confused 
and embarrassed on being brought before lord 
Endermay, and it was some time ere he could pre- 
vail upon them to speak. At length, re-assured, in 
some degree, by the gentleness he forced himself 
to assume, and the rewards he promised if nothing 
was concealed from him, the nurse candidly con- 
fessed she had parted with his child. 

" Soon after our return from France," said she, 
" I accompanied my husband in a voyage to the 
southern part of Ireland, taking your child along 
with me. My sister was then the wife of a soldier, 
whose regiment lay at no great distance from the 
place where the ship had anchored ; I accordingly 
took this opportunity of going to see her, and 
naturally let her into the secret concerning the 
child I was nursing ; she, in return, told me a story, 
not less curious, about an infant she had at her 
breast. This poor infant was seized with convul- 
sions, and died suddenly, whilst I was with her. 
My sister greatly lamented her death, as, had she 
lived, she said, she was certain she would have been 
the making of her fortune. Upon this, wisfrrrrg 
to serve my sister, and not over-desirous of more 
trouble than what my own children gave me, I told 
her she should, if she pleased, hare the child I was 
nursing, about whom, I was certain, no inquiries 
would ever be made, to supply the place of the one 



NOCTURNAL VISIT. tTZ 

Bhe had lost. She eagerly embraced the proposal, 
as there was no danger of the deception being dis- 
covered, the children being about the same age, and 
like each other. Accordingly, the place of little 
Jacintha was supplied by your daughter Eglan- 
tine, to whom I gave that name, in consequence 
of hearing it mentioned by the poor lady, her 
mother. My sister will now inform your lord- 
ship of..... J ' 

Here lord Endermay feebly extended his hand 
to motion her to silence, any further information 
being unnecessary ; and, overpowered by the ex- 
cess of his joy, at finding his hopes relative to 
Jacintha realized, he fainted away. As soon as 
he was brought to himself, he returned his fervent, 
his grateful acknowledgments to Heaven, for the 
preservation, the restoration of his daughter, and 
desired to be supported to the apartment where 
she sat. 

Lord Endermay, unable to speak on entering 
itxe room, paused near the entrance ; and, while 
the big tears coursed one another down his pale 
and furrowed cheeks, he extended his arms to 
Jacintha. 

Jacintha started from her chair, and surveyed 
him with wildness in her look. She panted, she 
trembled, and was ready to sink beneath the min- 
gled emotions of hope and fear, to which the 
expression of his countenance gave rise. 

" My child, my Eglantine !" at length exclaim- 
ed lord Endermay, " wilt thou not approach to 
receive the blessing of a father ? Thou art mine 
•...thou art my child.. ..thou art my long-lost 
daughter !" 

The apartment resounded with the shriek which 
burst from the lips of Jacintha. She flew, rather 
c c 



i U NOCTURNAL VISIT. 

than sprung into the arms of her father, and nearly 
fainted on his bosom. Then, sinking at his feet, 
she passionately embraced his knees, and called 
upon him again to acknowledge her. Lord En- 
dermay sunk upon his knees beside her. 

" Acknowledge thee," he said, " yes, with pride 
...with rapture. ..with unutterable joy, I acknow- 
ledge thee, my child! Oh God!" he continued, 
as he strained her to his bosom, " pour down thy 
choicest blessings on her head ! As thou hast 
conducted her with honour and safety through 
the thorny paths of adversity, so still continue to 
guide and protect her through the flowery, but 
more dangerous paths of prosperity ! Render her 
worthy of happiness herself, by continuing to her 
a disposition which will lead her to dispense it 
to others ; and still make her remember, that 
those who place their trust in thee, are never dis- 
appointed !" ^ 

On this scene it is not necessary to dwell any 
longer ; suffice it to say, that such proofs of Jacin- 
tha's birth were procured, as put it out of any 
person's power to doubt or dispute it; and that she 
was publicly introduced to the numerous relatives 
and dependants of the house of Endermay, as lady 
Eglantine Sinclair, the daughter and heiress of the 
cail of Endermay. 

The congratulations which she and her father 
received, were not more numerous than sincere ; 
for as Sinclair was almost generally disliked, so 
the disappointment of his expectations was conse- 
quently rejoiced at. Nothing but the abse.ru 
lady Endermay, and the apprehensions * 
entertained about her, prevented pul 
from taking place in the castle 
at the unexpected restoration of the 
daughter to each other. 



NOCTURNAL VISIT. 1 75 

Overwhelmed with shame and regret, Sinclair 
withdrew in secret from the neighbourhood, bit- 
terly regretting the hour which had introduced 
him to his niece, by whose means the discovery 
of his baseness, he knew, had been brought about ; 
and soon after closed his iniquitous life upon the 
continent. 

Not ail the entreaties of lord Endermay and 
Jacintha (or Eglantine, as we must now call her) 
could prevail upon Mrs. Sinclair to remain in the 
castle. Her heart revolted from the idea of con- 
tinuing in a place where the baseness of a husband, 
she could not cease regarding, was the theme of 
every tongue. She accordingly repaired, a few 
days after the discovery of Eglantine's birth, to 
the house of a relation, at some distance from it, 
where she spent the residue of her life, often vi- 
sited, and guarded from every pecuniary distress, 
by the generosity of the earl and his daughter. 

Lady Jane Sinclair also left>the castle, not from 
inclination, however, but necessity. Her brother 
settled her in a decent retreat, in another part of 
the country, but never suffered her again to ap- 
proach his residence. All the under agents in the 
plot, against his domestic happiness, he also pro- 
vided for ; but, like lady Jane, banished them his 
presence forever. 

The unfortunate Nairn, in consequence of the 
tender attentions which were paid him, soon re- 
gained that health which long confinement and 
neglect had deprived him of. Lord Endermay 
insisted on his residing entirely with him, and made 
him every amends in his power, for the suffer- 
ings he had drawn upon him. 

At the expected time, which, as it approached, 
increased the perturbations of lord Endermay and 



176 NOCTURNAL VISIT. 

Eglantine, the chaplain returned, and completed 
happiness of his patron, by putting into his 
anas his much injured lady ; altered, indeed, from 
what she was at the period they were separated, 
cut infinitely more interesting, more precious to 
his heart now, than she had ever been in all the 
pride of youth and blooming beauty. 

Over the scene which ensued, I shall pass, as 
conscious of its far exceeding my powers of de- 
scription. Who, indeed, could attempt, with any 
hope of doing them justice, to describe (and where 
we cannot do justice, it is surely far better to let 
the imagination of our reader paint for us) the 
feelings of an amiable woman restored to the ten- 
derness she valued, the reputation she prized, the 
friends she regarded ; or those of an adoring hus- 
band, clasping to his bosom a long estranged wife, 
whose loss he had never ceased regretting, even 
when he thought she was undeserving of that 
regret ? 

As soon as their first transports had a little sub- 
sided, lady Endermay turned her inquiring eyes 
round the apartment, from which, it was previous- 
ly settled, Eglantine should be kept till her mo- 
ther was a little prepared to behold her; and her 
countenance evidently changed at not finding 
within it an object at all resembling the one she 
looked for. 

* I see. ..I see," cried she in a melancholy voice, 
" my fears were just ; but let me not murmur at 
the decrees of Providence." 

" Murmur!" repeated lord Endermay, " no," 
continued he, clasping her hand in his, as he look- 
ed up to heaven, " Avith me extol its goodness.... 
that goodness which has enabled me to give joy 
to your heart, by preserving to us a treasure more 



NOCTURNAL V ISIT. 1 77 

precious than the wealth of worlds. Yes, my lovfe 
...yes, my Eglantine, I have a daughter to present 
you ! the fair resemblance of yourself, and every- 
way worthy of your affection." 

" Give her.. .give my child -to my arms !" ex- 
claimed the almost fainting lady Endermay. 

Lord Endermay, unable to move, almost to 
speak, motioned to one of his surrounding friends 
to go for Eglantine, who accordingly withdrew, 
and in a few minutes returned, leading her in. 

Lady Endermay sprung forward to meet her ; 
but, instead of embracing her, the moment she 
cast her eyes upon her, she started back. 

" Can I believe my eyes?" she cried, with a 
look of wild surprise. " Is this my daughter?" 

Eglantine advanced to her, and kneeling at her 
feet, tremblingly clasped her hands between hers, 
and bathed them with tears. 

" Oh transport!" exclaimed lady Endermay, 
" she is my child ! Enable me, gracious Hea- 
ven 1" she continued, falling upon her bosom, 
" to support, with some degree of calmness, the 
great.. ..the unexpected happiness of finding a 
daughter in her whom my heart felt interested 
about, ere it knew she had any claim, from na- 
ture, upon its tenderness. 

As Eglantine had never mentioned her inter- 
view with her mother (not from conceiving herself 
any longer bound to secrecy concerning her, but 
merely from a fear of affecting her father too 
severely by a description of her sufferings, which 
she could not have avoided giving, had she ac- 
knowledged seeing her), these words of lady 
Endermay required an explanation, which was 
demanded, and given as soon as she had regain- 
ed some degree of composure* 
c c % 



1 78 NOCTURNAL VISIT. < 

Blessed with what she had so long sighed for.,, 
parental tenderness ; delivered from dependence ; 
and secured from again experiencing pecuniary 
distresses, the heart of Eglantine would now have 
expanded to felicity, but for the dreadful anxiety- 
she suffered about Egbert ; concerning whose 
fate she was still kept in total ignorance by the 
obstinate silence of Woodville, though, upon the 
discovery of her birth, she had again written to 
him, acquainted him with that discovery, and con- 
jured him, in the most earnest manner, to relieve 
her uneasiness about his friend. 

The heavy cloud upon her brow, and the deep 
dejection into which she often sunk, could not 
escape the watchful eye of those who depended 
upon her for happiness. She had hitherto for- 
borne to say much of Egbert, trusting, from day 
to day, that he would arrive to speak for himself* 
But now, in reply to the anxious inquiries of her 
parents, she freely revealed the cause of her un- 
easiness, declared her long engagement to Egbert, 
and described him in such colours as excited the 
warmest interest in his favour, and made them 
readily promise to do every thing in their power 
to promote his felicity and hers. In pursuance 
of this promise, a day not far distant, was fixed for 
the commencement of a journey to London. 

On the eve of their intended departure from 
the castle, a letter, with the London post-mark 
upon it, was put into the hand of lady Eglantine ; 
she tore Jt open in a tremor, which was rather 
increased than diminished, by finding it from Mrs. 
Decourcy, instead of Woodville, as she expected. 

It began with the mose fervent congratulations 
upon the happy revolution in her affairs...a revo- 
lution not more unexpected or pleasing, Mrs. 



NOCTURNAL VISIT. 179 

BecGurcy said, than that which had taken place 
in her own situation, in consequence of a letter 
from lady Dunsane to her brother, containing a 
candid confession of all the errors of her youth... 
a confession, which entirely removed the suspi- 
cions he had so long entertained, to the prejudice 
of his domestiiPhappiness. 

" In thik letter," proceeded Mrs. Decourcy, 
" lady Dunsane not only revealed her early in- 
discretions, and the still greater errors she was 
led into by avarice and ambition, but the cruel 
and; treacherous manner she behaved to you, when 
decoyed into her power, by the artifices of lord 
Gwytherin. She also related the particulars of 
your interview with her, and the means by which 
she understood you had effected your escape from 
the chateau, where she confined you. 

" It will, ho doubt, fill you with astonishment," 
continued Mrs. Decourcy, " when I inform you 
that Henri, your generous deliverer from a cruel 
captivity, is heir, not only to the title of Dunsane, 
but to immense possessions, which the basest 
schemes have for some years kept from him. His 
story is briefly as follows : 

" The father of his mother and , of the late earl 
of Dunsane, were brothers. Her father was the 
eldest, and she (his only child), by succeeding to 
his estates, left the title, which devolved to her 
cousin, scarcely worth his acceptance. She was 
under age at the time her father died ; and the 
marquis de Montalde, a near relation of her mo- 
ther, was appointed her guardian. In pursuance 
of a solemn injunction she received from her 
father, never to have any intercourse with her 
cousin, who v/as considered a most dissolute cha- 
racter ? and never permitted to visit at his house, 



1 80 NOCTURNAL VISIT. 

she refused to see him, though he repeatedly 
solicited her to do so* He at length contrived,, 
notwithstanding the vigilance of the marquis (who,, 
apprised of his motives, for desiring to become 
acquainted with his ward, rxjok care to make her 
observe the prohibitions of her fatter), to intro- 
duce himself to her, and so compl^pfcly ingratiate 
himself into her favour, that sue constated to give 
him her hand in private, and thus put him into 
possession of what had alone made him solicitous 
for an aliianc- vvith her.. .her large fortune. 

M His indifference for her was increased, soon. 
after their marriage, by the violent pasq^Bre 
conceived for miss Decourcy, with whom, snout 
this period, he became acquainted. Fertile in 
resources, it did not require much deliberation, 
to arrange a plan for enabling him to gratify his 
inclinations. He proposed a tour of pleasure to 
his unsuspicious lady, then in a state which, had 
he possessed the least degree of feeling, would 
have interested him about her. Taking with 
them a few chosen domestics, he repaired with 
her to a solitary chateau, in the Pyrenees, (the 
©nly possession he inherited from his father), 
where he cruelly consigned her to lasting confine- 
ment. He had then a report of her illness pro- 
pagated in the neighbourhood they had left.... 
which was soon followed by an account of her 
death ; and shortly after he returned home, with 
well-dissembled sorrow in his face, but real joy 
in his heart, at the success of his schemes. As 
soon as decency would permit, the appearance of 
which he was studious to retain, he offered his 
hand to miss Decourcy, and was accepted, con- 
trary to the advice of her brother^ who had heard 



NOCTURNAL VISIT. 18 1 

his character, and consequently detested the idea 
of her being allied to him. 

" The anguish his unfortunate lady experienc- 
ed, at finding herself so cruelly deceived and 
abandoned, for some time disordered her reason. 
In this unhappy situation, while labouring under 
a temporary derangement, she became the mother 
of a lovely boy, and, in consequence of her mala- 
dy, was easily led to believe, the moment after 
he was born, he had expired. Instead of break- 
ing into murmurs or complaints, on regaining 
her senses, she submitted with patience to a fate, 
which she deemed a just punishment for her dis- 
obedience to her father. Nature, however, not 
to be deceived by any artifice, early attached her 
to her child, though represented to her, in pur- 
suance of the orders of her inhuman husband, as 
the son of the people who took care of her. Her 
only pleasure was derived from cultivating and 
improving his mind ; and the education she gave 
him, joined to his natural abilities, rendered him 
well qualified for the situation he was destined to 
fill. 

" By the perfidy of one of the confidants of lord 
Dunsane, the marquis, after a lapse of many years, 
obtained a knowledge of her wretched situation. 
Burning with indignation, he set out for the place 
of her confinement ; but, unfortunately, all his 
intentions in her favour were defeated by the ma- 
chinations of lord Dunsane, who, having received 
an intimation of the discovery he had made, timely 
apprized the people at the chateau of the visit he 
was about making to it. In consequence, lady 
Dunsane was removed to a dungeon, in a remote 
tower belonging to the building, where no appre- 



!82 NOCTURNAL VISIT. 

hensions Were entertained of her being sought for, 
and where she soon closed her calamitous life. 

" The marquis returned from his unsuccessful 
search, fully determined to investigate the myste- 
rious fate of his unfortunate relative, and bring to 
the punishment they merited, all who had been 
accessary to injuring her. But, alas ! this deter- 
mination was over-ruled by self-interest. He was 
a man of pleasure, and had so deeply involved his 
fortune, that at this time he was in a most em- 
barrassed situation. 

" From this situation, lord Dunsane (who pos- 
sessed neither delicacy nor honour, and judged 
of others by himself) explicitly informed him he 
should be extricated, if he promised to remain 
. "lent concerning his late ward. The offer was 
too tempting to be refused ; and, in order to si- 
lence any unpleasant rumours, he suffered himself 
to be still further prevailed upon by lord Dunsane, 
to appear to the world as his particular friend. 

" His motives for desiring an union with lady 
Dunsane, upon the decease of her lord, have been 
already mentioned, as also hers for consenting to 
it. On no other conditions, he assured her, would 
he any longer keep that secret, on which she 
knew so much depended ; for it had for some time 
been entrusted to her. 

" As Henri was pursuing his way from Calais* 
to the place where he hoped to obtain a passage 
to the East-Indies, it was his good fortune to ren- 
der a singular service to the marquis de Montalde, 
who, but for his exertions, would have been pre- 
cipitated down a tremendous precipice, in his 
carriage, in consequence of his horses being 
frightened by a noise on the road. Penetrated 
with gratitude, the marquis invited him to his 



NOCTURNAL VISIT. 183 

chateau, which was at no great distance from the 
place where the dreadful accident was so near 
happening. Henri accepted his invitation ; and 
the elegance of his manners, so little correspond- 
ing with the coarseness of his dress, and still more, 
the striking resemblance he bore his unfortunate 
mother, awakened the curiosity of the marquis, 
and led to inquiries which ended in the discovery 
of his birth. The marquis hesitated for some 
time, whether or not he should reveal it to him ; 
pity and remorse at length triumphed over ava- 
rice and ambition, and he at once delivered his 
conscience of a heavy burden, which had long 
oppressed it, and obeyed what it was evident 
to him was the will of Providence, by the manner 
in which Henri had been thrown in his way. 

" Lady Dunsane, overwhelmed with shame, at 
the discovery which took place, immediately form- 
ed a resolution of retiring, for the residue of her 
life, to a convent. Henri acted most nobly ; he 
secured to her and her daughters an ample pro- 
vision, and relieved the marquis from all his em- 
barrassments. 

" Upon the receipt of the countess's letter, we 
hastened our return to England," proceeded Mrs. 
Decourcy. " On our arrival in London, we lost 
no time in sending for you to Mrs. Falkland's, 
where we naturally concluded you were. Our 
consternation at finding you had left her house, 
and v/ere gone no one knew whither, may be 
easier conceived than described. Our agonizing 
fears about you, were at length relieved by Wood- 
ville's enclosing the letter he received from you, 
to us. 

" Ere I bid you adieu, I must inform you we 
had not been many days in London, when we 



184 NOCTURNAL VISIT. 

"were most agreeably surprised by a visit from 
lord Dunsane, who obtained our address from 
Mr. Decourcy's agent, to whom, you may remem- 
ber, you gave him our direction. It is unneces- 
sary, I am sure, to say we received him with every 
demonstration of pleasure. Had his own merits 
been less, we should still have been delighted to 
see, and shew every attention to him, for the 
essential services he rendered to a person so dear 
to us as you are. He mentioned his intention of 
residing in future in England, to which he pro- 
fessed himself extremely partial.. ..a partiality 
originating, I fancy, from the still greater he has 
conceived for one of its fair natives ; who that is, 
I leave you to guess.'* 

Mrs. Decourcy concluded her letter with an 
earnest request for Eglantine to write to her im- 
mediately, and inform her whether she had any 
idea of visiting London soon, as, if not, she and 
Mr. Decourcy would directly prepare for a jour- 
ney to Scotland. 

This letter threw Eglantine into such agonies, 
from the apprehensions it excited by its total 
silence concerning Egbert, and the manner in 
which it mentioned Woodville to have acted, as 
made her hastily retire to her dressing-room, to 
prevent her parents from being pained by behold- 
ing distress which they could not relieve. She 
had not been here above half an hour, when she 
heard a hasty step approaching, and in the next 
moment the door was thrown open by her mo- 
ther. Eglantine started, and averted her head to 
conceal her tears. 

" I am come, my dear child,*' said her mother, 
" to inform you your father has changed his mind, 
and will not go to London.' ' 



NOCTURNAL VISIT- iss 

M Not go !" repeated Eglantine in a faint voice, 
and turning to her mother. 

" No," said lady Endermay, "he thinks a jour- 
ney thither quite unnecessary." 

" Unnecessary i" again repeated Eglantine. 

" Yes, and so will you, I am sure," replied her 
mother, " when you hear his reason for thinking 
so." 

The smile which accompanied these words, 
caused such emotions in the heart of Eglantine, 
as nearly overpowered her. 

" My love, my Eglantine," cried her mother, 
clasping her arms around her, " how do I rejoice 
at being able to give you joy. ...at being able to 
inform you, that he for whom you suffered so 
much anxiety, is safe. ...is well....is 

Eglantine heard no more ; her spirits sunk be- 
neath the sudden revolution in her feelings, and 
she fainted upon the bosom of her mother. How 
impossible to speak her transport when, on reco- 
vering, she found herself in the arms of Egbert ! 
Neither, for many minutes, were able to give ut- 
terance to their feelings ; and both, in this blissful 
moment, found themselves amply recompensed 
for all their sufferings. 

" May the happiness I now witness be as per- 
manent as it is pure !" cried the venerable lord 
Endermay (as soon as the attendants, who assisted 
in recovering Eglantine, had withdrawn.) " Bless, 
Oh God 1" he continued, looking up to heaven, 
and folding their united hands in his, " bless these 
my children ! May they never forget the grati- 
tude they owe thee for thy protection, through 
the difficulties and dangers they experienced I 
May that confidence in each other, which was so 
great a comfort to them, throughout all these 



186 NOCTURNAL VISIT. 

perils and distresses, never be diminished ! and 
may they live long, a blessing to one another, and 
to all connected with them!" 

As so<m as Egbert was a little composed, he 
gratified the curiosity of Eglantine, by relating 
to her the circumstances which had caused her 
to be so long tormented with anxiety and appre- 
hension about him. 

" I was beginning to despair of ever recovering 
any part of my lost property," said he, " and in 
consequence, to think of leaving the West-Indies, 
when I received a letter from the marquis of 
Me th wold, written, in consequence of the death 
of lord Augustus Oswald, to entreat me not to 
delay returning to England, that he might have 
the pleasure, ere he died, of publicly acknowledg- 
ing me as his heir, and personally imploring my 
forgiveness for his neglect and unkindness to my 
parents and t me, which had, in a great measure, 
been occasioned by the artifices of his son and 
grandson ; the latter of whom declared, in his last 
moments, that they had both contrived to keep 
back all the letters that were written to soften 
the marquis, or try to interest him in my behalf. 
You may be sure I did not hesitate to comply 
with this entreaty ; but, notwithstanding the 
promptitude with which I obeyed it, I arrived 
but in time at Methwold castle, whither he re- 
I turned from Portugal, with the remains of his 
grandson, to receive his last sigh. Here I was 
joined by my friend Woodville ; and the pleasure 
his unexpected visit gave me, was heightened by 
its enabling me to make inquiries after you. As 
soon as the marquis was interred, we set off for 
the house of Mr. Falkland, in Essex, where we 
supposed you were. Mrs. Falkland received us 



NOCTURNAL VISIT 187 

alone, and notwithstanding our having formerly 
known her, with the utmost coolness. She told 
us, in a manner that excited a sudden alarm in 
my heart, which my firm reliance on your truth 
and constancy, however, made me almost instant- 
ly dismiss, that you had left her some weeks he- 
fore,' in a strange and sudden manner ; that she 
had not heard any thing about you since that pe- 
riod ; and that the day after your departure, a 
gentleman, who would not reveal his name, and 
took great pains to conceal his person, had been 
to inquire after you. From her house we pro- 
ceeded to that of Mr. Decourcy, in Hertfordshire ; 
but here, instead of obtaining the satisfaction I 
sought, I found additional cause for uneasiness. 
I could not doubt, from what the housekeeper 
said, that the gentleman who had followed you to 
Beech-Grove, was the same that had been to Mr. 
Falkland's, to make inquiries concerning you ; 
neither that it was through his means you had 
given up your intention of going to a residence 
she had been about procuring for you. Tortured 
by perplexity, to which the looks of Woodville 
added, I accompanied him to Mrs. Derwent's 
house, at Mortlake ; here my inquietude was re- 
lieved by miss Woodville 's informing me she 
heard you were gone to reside with a lady in 
Lancashire, whose address, she said, she had ac- 
cidentally learned, and now gave me. Thither 
Woodville and I posted ; but Oh i how impossible 
to paint the agonies I felt, when I found you had 
never been there ; and learned from the old lady, 
to whom with difficulty I obtained admission, that 
she knew no such person, and had merely per- 
mitted your letters to be directed to her house, 
to oblige lord Gwytherin, her relation. Strong, 



183 NOCTURNAL VISIT. 

however, as appearances were against you, I did 
not readily (so great is the confidence of real 
love) yield to the suspicions they inspired ; till 
Woodville, in order, as he hoped, to terminate all 
further anxiety about you, explicitly informed 
me, from the conduct he had witnessed at Beech- 
Grove, he was not in the least surprised at what 
he heard, and fully convinced me you were un- 
worthy of my esteem...a conviction I was com- 
pelled to admit, from the particulars he related 
to me." 

" Surely," said Eglantine, here interrupting 
him, with astonishment in her looks, " you never 
could have received the letter I entrusted to miss 
Woodville for you?" 

" Never," replied Egbert, " she basely kept 
back not only the letter you left with her for me, 
but the one you addressed to her brother ; and 
to their detention was owing the misery I so long 
endured.. .a misery which only those like me, who 
have known what it is to dote, yet doubt.. .sus- 
pect, yet strongly love, can form an adequate 
idea of." 

" Good heaven !" exclaimed Eglantine, " what 
could have tempted her to act so basely ?" 

" Envy !" replied Egbert. " The superiority 
of your charms ; but still more, the friendship 
Mr. and Mrs. Decourcy entertained for you, 
which she thought militated against her interest, 
made her detest you, and wish to behold you les- 
sened in the estimation of the world. She per- 
ceived, on her brother's return from Beech-Grove, 
that he was displeased with you ; but on what 
account she could not discover, though she prac- 
tised all her efforts to try and do so. Woodville 
generously determined never to divulge any thing 



NOCTURNAL VISIT. 189 

which could injure you, while there was a hope 
of your being able to vindicate yourself, and such 
a hope he was inclined to entertain, in conse- 
quence of a letter you wrote to him from Beech- 
Grove, but which he was too angry with you, for 
your supposed levity, to answer. The letters you 
consigned to miss Woodville's care, she doubted 
not, would reveal to her the secret she panted to 
know ; in defiance, therefore, of every principle 
of honour, she opened and perused them. The 
consequences which could scarcely fail of result- 
ing from their suppression, instantly occurred to 
her, and stimulated her to destroy them, relying 
upon her own ingenuity to extricate herself from 
any difficulty, her having done so, might hereaf- 
ter draw upon her. But to this measure she 
was prompted not more by envy than ambition. 
About the time you visited her at Mortlake, a 
rumour prevailed of the death of lord Augustus, 
and the marquis's intention of recalling me to 
England ; and could I be brought to think ill of 
you, she flattered herself, from the intimacy sub- 
sisting between her brother and me, she might 
by degrees insinuate herself so far into my regard, 
as to lead me to offer her my hand, and thus ele- 
vate herself to the rank she was always ambitious 
of attaining." 

" How severely the conduct of his sister must 
have wounded the heart of Woodville!" said 
Eglantine. 

u Severely indeed," replied Egbert. " She is 
a proof of the mischiefs which result from placing 
young people under the care of those who are not 
perfectly amiable. Had she been brought up by 
Mrs. Decourcy, instead of Mrs. Derwent, she 
might have been an ornament to her sex; for 
©d 2 



190 NOCTURNAL VISIT. 

virtues, as Addison justly observes, are as catch- 
ing as vices ; and, as barren land may, by proper 
cultivation, at length bring forth good fruit.. .so, 
by proper correction and advice, a wayward dis- 
position may, at length, be rendered capable of 
generous actions. But to proceed in my narra- 
tive. We returned from Lancashire to Mortlake ; 
and now miss Woodville explicitly informed me, 
that it was rumoured, and generally believed, that 
you had eloped to some obscure retreat with lord 
G wytherin. I shall not tire you by dwelling upon 
the pains I took to discover this retreat. I panted 
for revenge, and my not being able to obtain it, 
heightened my wretchedness ; this wretchedness 
was so great, that life was often a burden to me. 
My friend Woodville watched over me with the 
greatest anxiety and tenderness ; and imagining 
the gaiety of the metropolis might in some de- 
gree dissipate my thoughts, he forced me to it, 
from a distant country residence of Mrs. Der- 
went, to which with him, upon her going thither, 
I had received an invitation. In this visit to the 
metropolis, I saw you at the play. Oh heaven ! 
even now I tremble to think of the feelings I 
experienced on beholding you in company with 
a woman of infamous description ; for such the 
gentleman who accompanied me to the theatre 
informed me your companion was." 

" Ah! then," said Eglantine, " Mrs. Saville 
did not deceive me, when she said you saw and 
shunned me." 

" She did not indeed," replied Egbert. " After 
some minutes of irresolution, I left the theatre, 
fearful lest, if I longer continued in it, I might 
be led into some action which would draw upon 
me general obi rvation. I found Woodviile, 



NOCTURNAL VISIT. 191 

whom a particular engagement had prevented 
from accompanying me thither, at home ; in vain 
he attempted to sooth my agonies. I was in a 
state of madness, and instantly left town, to avoid 
the chance of again meeting you. I returned to 
the house of Mrs. Derwent, though why, I know 
not, for inclination, I am sure, did not lead me 
thither ; and Woodville, whom important business 
detained in town, promised to follow in a few days. 
It was at this period he met you, and received an 
explanation, which removed every suspicion he had 
ever entertained against you, from his mind ; 
rendered you more estimable than ever in his 
opinion, and convinced him that some treachery 
had been practised. This, your mentioning the 
letters you had entrusted to his sister, gave him 
a clue to trace ; and he trembled to think of my 
being exposed to her blandishments, while my 
mind was in a ferment, and my anguish so great, 
that I scarcely cared what action I committed* 
To the apprehensions which started in his mind, 
was owing his abrupt departure from you, and 
the mysterious language he used. The moment 
he quitted you, he set out for Mrs. Derwent's, 
regardless of his own concerns, in his anxiety to 
save me from further, or still greater misery than 
I then experienced. Ere he reached the house 
of Mrs. Derwent, however, I had left it. I acci- 
dentally learned from a gentleman, whom I met 
at it, that lord Gwytherin was in France ; and I, 
with 

" Wings as swift 
41 As meditation or the thoughts of love." 

hastened to take revenge ; but ere I arrived at 
the town where I was informed his lordship re- 
sided, ample vengeance had been taken on hi& 



I n NOCTURNAL VISIT. 

crimes : he fell in a duel with a young officer, 
whose sister he attempted to seduce." 

" Unhappy man!" said Eglantine, inexpressi- 
bly shocked to hear of his fate. " How dreadful 
the idea of his being cut off, with all his crimes* 
upon his head!" 

" Dreadful indeed," replied Egbert ; " but re- 
member, it was those crimes which provoked that 
fate. In the town where I expected to meet him, 
extreme fatigue and agitation threw me into a 
fever. Here Woodville overtook me, and brought 
with him such tidings as restored me to health, 
to life, to happiness. He extorted from his sister, 
who found it in vain to deny it, a full confession 
of her baseness, and left her overwhelmed with 
shame and confusion. His eagerness to follow 
me to France, prevented him from paying his 
respects to Mr. and Mrs. Decourcy, who, about 
this time, returned to England ; but he terminat- 
ed their anxiety about you, by enclosing to them 
your last welcome letter from Scotland : with 
them, I hope, he will soon partake of our joy. 
Of my destiny Mrs. Decourcy was ignorant at 
the time she wrote ; but ere this she is acquainted 
with it, as Woodville staid behind for the express 
purpose of waiting upon her and Mr. Decourcy." 

In the course of this happy clay, which termi- 
nated all the anxiety of Eglantine, she wrote to 
her beloved friend Mrs. Decourcy, requesting her, 
Mr. Decourcy, and Woodville, to hasten imme- 
diately to Endermay castle. The invitation was 
accepted, and two days after their arrival, Egbert 
and Eglantine were united. The rejoicings which 
took place on this occasion, were not such as 
mere ostentation dictated, but such as sprung from 
Love and tenderness ; every one seemed interested 



NOCTURNAL VISIT. 193 

in, and every one seemed to rejoice at the happi- 
ness of, the youthful pair. 

" Oh my children !" said lord Endermay, in the 
course of this day, which gave to him a son, rich 
in every virtue, " how forcibly does your story 
inculcate the usefulness of patience, resignation, 
and fortitude ! It is by the exertion of those es- 
timable qualities, you have ultimately attained 
your present felicity. Had you yielded to despair 
....had you, by so doing, withdrawn your confi- 
dence from Heaven, you would, no doubt, have 
sunk beneath the burdens which oppressed you ; 
but, by struggling against adversity, you have 
conquered it, and proved, that those who exert 
their own strength, are still supported. They who 
rely for succour upon the Almighty, are never 
disappointed." 

Little more now remains for us to say, than to 
give some account of the other characters intro- 
duced into this work. Of lord Gwytherin and 
lady Dunsane we have already spoken. The for- 
mer fell a victim to his vices, and the latter, in 
the solitude of a convent, too late permitted her- 
self to be convinced, that the winding paths of 
dissimulation ever end in shame and sorrow. 

The giddy and unfeeling Gertrude, who had 
been led by vanity alone to unite herself to Mr. 
Polworth, at length suffered herself to be seduced 
into guilt, by the insinuating tenderness of captain 
Bellamy. The eyes of her husband, which her 
artifices had completely blinded, were soon open- 
ed by the friends of his daughter, and he imme- 
diately sought legal redress for his injuries. Ere 
this, however, could be obtained, Gertrude died, 
of grief for the desertion of her seducer, and the 
infamy with which she found herself overwhelmed* 



1 94 NOCTURNAL VISIT. 

The affliction of her almost distracted iflfother ? 
who, notwithstanding her conduct, would not se- 
parate herself from her, was increased by the 
idea of having merited it, not more from the 
improper education she had given to her, than 
from her own disobedience to the last commands 
of her husband, and her inhumanity to the inno- 
cent and distressed Eglantine. She was indeed, 
by this dreadful Stroke, humbled to the dust, and 
owned, with tears, the justness of the punishment. 

Eglantine (who never mentioned the cruelty she 
had experienced from her to the Decourcys, well 
knowing the irreparable injury it would be to her 
to have it known, and who had long since forgiven 
it) never rested, on hearing of the death of Ger- 
trude, till she discovered the obscure retreat to 
which her unfortunate mother had retired to hide 
her miseries. 

At first the unhappy woman shrunk from be- 
holding her ; but, by degrees, her gentle pity was 
-so soothing to her lacerated heart, that she hailed 
her presence as she would have done that of a 
ministering angel, and next to Heaven, looked up 
to her for support and consolation. 

Thus did Eglantine, by the comfort she afforded 
her, and the services she united with the Decour- 
cys in rendering to her family, gratify the benevo- 
lent feelings of her heart, and evince the gratitude 
she felt for the kindnesses experienced from Mr. 
Greville, the father,, the friend, and protector of 
her early youth. 

Lord Dunsane, who came over to England, for 
the express purpose of proposing for Eglantine, 
returned to France on hearing of her engagement, 
where, by calling reason to his aid, he soon tri- 
umphed over his hopeless passion? and, in the 



NOCTURNAL VISIT. 195 

course of time, married a very amiable lady, with 
whom he enjoyed all the felicity he merited. 

Miss Woodville profited by the shame she felt 
at the detection of her baseness ; and, by a strict 
adherence in future to truth and integrity, regain- 
ed her former place in the esteem of her brother, 
and was at length happy in an alliance with a man 
of worth. 

Woodville, attached to domestic happiness, soon 
followed the example of Egbert, and was as happy 
in his choice of a wife, as he had been in that of 
a friend. 

Egbert and Eglantine, as amiable in prosperity 
as in adversity, were, as lord Endermay had 
wished them to be, a blessing to one another and 
to all connected with them. 

Their time was principally divided betwen En- 
dermay and Methwold castles ; in the former of 
which lord and lady Endermay continued to re- 
side, blessed by beholding the happiness of those 
most dear to them. 

" One bright gleam 
" Of setting life shone on their evening hours: 
41 Not less enraptur'd than the happy pair, 
" Who flourish 'd long in tender bliss, and rear'd 
" A numerous offspring, lovely like themselves, 
41 And good, the grace of all the country round." 

THOMSON. 



THE END. 



his hope!< 



> *; U 



